My Policeman is a romantic drama about a secret affair between two men in 1950s Brighton. An ensemble cast come together in a then and now story of passion, pain and forgiveness that takes place over two eras.

When young Marion (Emma Corrin) meets the dreamy policeman Tom (Harry Styles), she’s just about got it made. He teaches her to swim, wins her prizes at the fair and bags them a private museum tour with curator Patrick (David Dawson), whom he met at work. He’s even happy to get stuck into her books. 

But that’s not the only thing he’s getting stuck into. 

Decades later, Marion (Gina McKee), now a caregiver to Patrick (Rupert Everett), begins reading through the ailing man’s journals whilst Tom (Linus Roache) skulks about in the background. As she does, we are escorted back to the 1950s and re-live a tumultuous affair between the two men.

The 1950s moments of My Policeman plod into the values and expectations that were prominent at the time, however doesn’t always do so with as much weight as you’d hope for. Your heart will ache for Tom and Patrick as they can only be together in secret, but the film seems to lack the baggage you’d expect delivered given the context of an upstanding policeman double dipping between his wife and another man. Especially in an age of traditional and outdated beliefs. 

Homosexuality was illegal in 1950s Britain and we see what happens when gay men are caught by police, and we hear of even worse attacks. No wonder then, that after drinking all of Patrick’s scotch and letting himself get noshed off, Tom quickly becomes fearful they might get caught. And you’d almost feel sorry for Harry Styles’ Tom. All but forced to uphold a marriage and live a lie. Even years later, the shame of his sexuality really is a sign of the times. But as the plot unfolds and you see him repeatedly gaslight Patrick and Marion you start to think well hang on mate, let’s take a minute. 

Scenes set in the 1990s come at a much slower pace. Riddled with guilt, Marion struggles to care for Patrick and gets no help from Tom. The older versions of the characters all have a lifetime of regret to mull over, but again, this isn’t really explored beyond the narrative required.

With such a diverse cast, you’d just expect a bit more really. The Crown’s Emma Corrin plays an unbearably oblivious Marion turned woman scorned, the only character with any real development, contrasted by Gina McKee’s more forgiving older self. Styles’ range skirts between the absolute embodiment of a charming 50s dream boat and someone awkwardly repeating the lines they learnt earlier. Luckily, as the young Marion watches him swimming in the local lido, the sun glinting off of his muscled back, the British star’s acting capabilities are the last thing on anyone’s mind. But then, in casting one of the most famous people in the world to cop on with another bloke, was it ever really about the story?

When all is said and done My Policeman is a journey back in time to a relatively unexplored time for gay men. Set long before the Stonewall Riots or the AIDs crisis it’s refreshing to see a new area of gay history on screen. Based on true events, it’s a film about very realistic, human characters doing their best to navigate the times they were in.

Available in cinemas and on Amazon Prime now. 

Big fan of forbidden love stories? Check out our review for Starcrossed – a fresh spin on the greatest love story ever told.