Michael Palin's Return to Acting in 'Small Prophets'
For decades, Michael Palin has been synonymous with globetrotting adventures, from North Korea to the Diomede Islands, in his celebrated television travels. Yet, had he not spent the past 40 years exploring far-flung locales, with brief pauses for Monty Python reunions and book writing, Palin might have carved out an even more prolific acting career.
In the 1980s, he was hailed as one of Britain's foremost comic actors, starring in films like Brazil, A Private Function, and the BAFTA-winning A Fish Called Wanda. Now, his supporting role in the BBC Two series Small Prophets serves as a delightful reminder of his exceptional talent.
A Touching Portrayal of Memory and Magic
Palin plays Brian Sleep, an elderly inventor residing in a care home, who spends his afternoons tinkering with contraptions and entering magazine competitions. His memory flickers in and out, a condition Palin conveys with remarkable subtlety. Rather than overplaying for comedic effect, he portrays Brian as a man striving to hide his bewilderment, making his occasional slips all the more poignant.
While Brian struggles to recall what he had for lunch, he retains vivid memories of his National Service nearly 70 years ago and an encounter with an alchemist in an Egyptian bazaar who kept six clairvoyant imps, called homunculi, in bottles. This blend of fading reality and enduring fantasy forms the heart of the series.
Mackenzie Crook's Signature Touch
Small Prophets is written and directed by Mackenzie Crook, the creator of the beloved cult classic Detectorists. Here, Crook infuses his trademark gentle pace and whimsical dialogue with a dash of magic and a more intricate plot. The result feels akin to Detectorists reimagined through the lens of Terry Pratchett, offering a charming escape into a world where the mundane meets the mystical.
Pearce Quigley, a character actor instantly recognisable by his beard, co-stars as Brian's son, Michael. An assistant at a DIY shop, Michael still lives in the house he shared with his girlfriend, Clea, who vanished years ago. The home is cluttered with stacks of boxes, barely allowing the front door to open, yet one room remains immaculate as a eerie shrine to a 1970s Christmas.
This space features beige tartan furnishings, wood-clad walls, a massive Rediffusion TV, an even larger gas fire, and a tinsel tree ablaze with lights. The key to this room is marked 'Clea', hinting at unresolved mysteries. Michael's life is further complicated by a brash neighbour, played by Jon Pointing, who fumes over the garden's state, and Clea's seedy brother, portrayed by Paul Kaye, who schemes to evict Michael and sell the property.
A Hidden Gem in the Schedules
Where the story will ultimately lead remains tantalisingly uncertain, but unearthing this little treasure in the television schedules promises to be a treat for fans of thoughtful, character-driven fantasy. With Palin's nuanced performance and Crook's deft direction, Small Prophets stands as a testament to the enduring power of gentle storytelling and magical realism on the small screen.
