The threatened closure of a geriatric ward in a small Yorkshire hospital stirs an uprising from the local community, who invite a news crew to film preparations for an award ceremony in honour of the hospital’s most distinguished nurse, Sister Gilpin (Jennifer Saunders). Alan Bennett’s popular stage play has been adapted for the big screen by Heidi Thomas and is directed by Richard Eyre. As well as Saunders, there is plenty of talent on screen as well. Judi Dench, Derek Jacobi, and David Bradley play patients and Russell Tovey appears as Bradley’s son, Colin.
For quite a lot of the running time, Allelujah was an impassioned defence of the NHS with assured performances and some funny lines that are pure Bennett. Jacobi and Tovey are particularly good, the latter playing a Tory special adviser who wants to close the hospital down.
But towards the end things go awry. Colin has a sudden change in his beliefs and there is a twist that M. Night Shyamalan might be proud of but which undermines most of what has happened before. A coda from the excellent Bally Gill who plays the compassionate Dr Valentine is timely and powerful but cannot rescue the disastrous earlier twist.
Rating: 6 out of 10