Small Island (2009 John Alexander)

Andrea Levy was born in the UK to Jamaican parents and wrote the 2004 novel, which was adapted for the small screen by Paula Milne (The Politician's Wife) and Sarah Williams (Poppy Shakespeare). I did wonder whether the voiceover actually adds anything (presumably these are extracts from the novel) but otherwise this 180 minute film is a resounding success with bloody brilliant performances from Naomie Harris, David Oyelowo, Ashley Walters, Ruth Wilson and Benedict Cumberbatch.

I loved the plotting - that Hortense never realises the baby is Michael's; that we never find out what happened to Michael. And the flashback structure makes it very engaging.

With a sort of African inspired score by Martin Phipps, shot diffused by Tony Miller, edited by Roy Sharman, production design Will Hughes Jones. With location filming in Jamaica.

With Karl Johnson, Roger Sloman, Shaun Parkes, Mary Jo Randle, Nikki Amuka-Bird. Special mention to Gillian Raine as 'woman with sweet'.