Ten years ago the people of London suffered a tragic and senseless loss when, on Thursday 7 July 2005, terrorists set off four bombs throughout Central London, killing 52 people.
A decade on, BBC One drama A Song for Jenny serves as a reminder of this atrocity and how we cope with such human devastation. Centring around the life of victim Jenny Nicholson and based on the book by her mother, Julie Nicholson (A Song for Jenny: A Mother’s Story) this is a deeply moving and emotionally clinching piece of television.
“You don’t know, do you? There have been explosions in London. Explosions… it’s all over the television. And I can’t reach Jenny.”
Emily Watson is revelatory in her portrayal of grieving mother Julie. You can literally feel her strain through your TV set. Her internalised pain captures you in a performance that is brilliantly evocative and yet desperately sad.
Julie herself is a complex character, a vicar who begins to lose faith in herself and her belief system in the wake of her daughter’s death, but also pulls away from her obviously close knit and loving family in an effort to cope solely with her unimaginable pain.
Watson makes you feel so much with so little, whether it be scolding a homeless man to ‘leave us alone’ (subtextually saying to the world that she has her own problems to deal with and that life goes on beyond her problems) or a more frank outburst, such as when she is identifying Jenny’s body or seeing the crime scene photographs.
“I vowed to love her…protect her and keep her from harm. And I haven’t.”
It all feels very real, which is very important when the drama is taken from true events. Sombre black and white title cards documenting the real life events and the final tally of the victims book-end the episode, documenting its real life significance, while actual ten year old BBC news footage adds a harrowing sense of realism to proceedings.
Flashbacks are also used to illustrate both Jenny’s happy and content existence pre-7/7 but also seek to permeate the, often bleak, drama with points of momentary light and levity.
“I have bad news for you. Jennifer Nicholson has been identified by way of dental records as one of the victims…The DNA confirms that it is Jennifer. There is no mistake.”
It’s a moving piece, but difficult to watch in some places. The scene where Julie gives her own daughter the Last Rites and yet can’t remember the words, breaking down, is harrowing. Once again Watson is superb in a respectful and not maudlin show of emotion. Hers is an exploration of human grief, the true gravity of loss and a struggle to understand the hurtful actions of others.
Though it is dark in places, A Song for Jenny has a lot of positive messages about hope and faith and strength through love. A particularly touching scene of note is when Julie is returning home from London to Reading. Upon mention of her daughter’s death, the taxi driver takes her home to Reading free of charge. It was a lovely moment and one that illustrated that there is still goodness and kindness in the world, despite all its horrible events.
“I won’t let hate destroy that love. That’s why I can look at this horror. Jenny’s love lets me. She didn’t hate…neither must I. I couldn’t save my daughter. She saved me.”
A Song for Jenny is a beautifully crafted and honourably acted piece of television. A respectful remembrance, not just of one life but all those lost ten years ago. It also serves as a message that although grief seems all consuming at the time, faith and hope and the love of others will often pull us though. Well done to all involved.
Aired at 9pm on Sunday 5 July 2015 on BBC One.
> Follow Dale Cowan on Twitter.
What did you think of A Song for Jenny? Let us know below…