It's a Sin (2021)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s a Sin is a miniseries which premiered on British television (Channel 4) in 2021.

 

The topic of this film is the history of the gay community in Britain. 

 

More precisely, the life of the gay community in London during the years 1981-1991, when new words like HIV and AIDS appeared and made a huge impact on society.

 

While the story and most characters are fictional, the series is based on and inspired by experiences and memories of real persons.

 

Here is some basic information about this series:

 

** Creator and writer: Russell T. Davies

** Director: Peter Hoar

** Language: English

** Subtitles: English

** Run time: 5 x ca. 47 minutes = ca. 235 minutes

 

The cast includes the following

 

** Olli Alexander as Ritchie Tozer

** Nathaniel Curtis as Ash Mukherjee

** Callum Scott Howells as Colin Morris-Jones

** Omari Douglas as Roscoe Babatunde

** Lydia West as Jill Baxter

 

[The character Jill Baxter is based on a real person Jill Nalder who is a friend of Russell.]

 

[The character Colin Morris-Jones is based on an ex-boyfriend of Russell.]

 

Five episodes cover the decade 1981-1991.

 

Here is a list of the five episodes:

 

# 1. Set in 1981

# 2. Set in 1983

# 3. Set in 1986

# 4. Set in March 1988

# 5. Set in November 1991

 

Five friends rent a house in London. This is the centre of their lives. Four men and one woman share this house. Since the four men are gay, the place is named the Pink House.

 

In this series, we follow the lives of the five friends and the people around them during the time from 1981 to 1991. There are good times as well as bad times.

 

It’s a Sin is a story about happiness and sadness. It is, literally, a story about life and death.

 

The topic was - and still is – very controversial. It was too controversial for the BBC and for ITV.

 

Channel 4 decided to accept the plan for a series about the gay community in London during the 1980s, but the television station had one condition: 

 

The power of the series had to be toned down. The number of episodes was reduced from eight to five.

 

What do reviewers say about this series?

 

Here are some results:

 

87 percent = IMDb

82 percent = Meta (the audience)

91 percent = Meta (the critics)

92 percent = Rotten Tomatoes (the audience)

97 percent = Rotten Tomatoes (the critics)

 

On Amazon UK there are at the moment more than 1,000 global ratings; more than 150 with reviews.

 

The average rating is 4.8 stars, which corresponds to a rating of 96 percent.

 

As you can see, the ratings are very good. When we remember that this series is about a very controversial topic, the ratings are surprisingly good.

 

I understand the numerous positive reviews and I agree with them. In my opinion, the high ratings are fully justified.

 

The team behind this series chose to explore a difficult and dangerous topic, but they managed to create a combination of serious information and good entertainment.

 

I want to go all the way to the top with this product. I think it deserves a rating of five stars (100 percent).

 

PS # 1. Russell T. Davies is a British screenwriter and television producer who has been involved in several productions, including the following:

 

** Torchwood (2006-2011)

** The Sarah Jane Adventures (2007-2011)

** A Very English Scandal (2018)

** Nolly (2023)

** Three Little Birds (2023)

 

PS # 2. Riot is a historical drama which premiered on Australian television (ABC) in 2018.

 

The topic of this drama is the gay and lesbian community in Australia.

 

** Rating on IMDb = 68 percent

** Rating on Amazon Australia = 4.5 stars which corresponds to a rating of 90 percent

 

PS # 3. Fellow Travelers is a historical drama (a miniseries in eight parts), which premiered in 2023. 

 

The topic of this drama is the gay and lesbian community in the USA during the Cold War (1952-1987).

 

** Rating on IMDb = 82 percent

** Rotten Tomatoes = 91 percent (the audience)

** Rotten Tomatoes = 92 percent (the critics)

 

REFERENCE

 

# 1. The UK

 

Prejudice and Pride: Discrimination against Gay People in Modern Britain

Edited by Bruce Galloway

(1983)

 

Coming Out: Homosexual Politics in Britain from the Nineteenth Century to the Present

By Jeffrey Weeks

(1990)

 

Good as You:

From Prejudice to Pride -

30 Years of Gay Britain

By Paul Flynn

(2017)

 

Odd Men Out:

Male Homosexuality in Britain

By John-Pierre Joyce

(2019 = first edition)

(2022 = second edition)

 

# 2. The USA 

 

The Lavender Scare: The Cold War Persecution of Gays and Lesbians in the Federal Government

By David K. Johnson

(2004 = hardcover)

2023 = paperback)

 

*****

Riot

A historical drama which premiered on

Australian television (ABC) in 2018.

The topic of this drama is the gay and lesbian 

 community in Australia

*****