There's a small list of films and television shows that have profoundly affected me either because they have created an awareness on a subject I was previously completed misinformed on (Hillsborough) or have impacted me so deeply I became an activist (And the Band Played On) while others have just connected with me on an emotional level for more personal reasons and in the case of IMDY, it was certainly the latter and partly about timing.
I May Destroy You follows the life of London blogger Arabella (Cole) propelled to sudden fame by a hit best seller, she's trying to find something relevant to say for the difficult second album. While trying to live up the expectations of both her agent & publicist, who are trying to define her image for her, rather than her organically discovering it on her own. As she struggles to focus on work she finds herself dealing with a sea of overwhelming emotions after a night out that she only remembers through nightmarish flashbacks, which leads to her recollecting images of a serious sexual assault. These events cause her life to slowly unravel as she tries to discover what happened on that fateful night but neglects her own friends issues in the process, often with dire consequences.
If Cole had focused on Arabella alone, it might have been hard for the audience to stay with her on this journey, but equal perspective is given to best friends Terry and Kwame (Opia & Essiedu both SUPERB) whose lives are impacted by some of Arabella's poorer choices, but may themselves have also played their part in the circumstances which led to Arabella being sexually assaulted. There's no good guys or bad guys in this show, only people, real characters, defined by their actions.
Just when the show starts to feel in comfortable territory MC will throw a hand grenade into an already complex subject and the issue of sexual consent is something which is under constant examination throughout the show and rarely has it been tackled as well, nor honestly, as it has here. Frequent flashbacks to Arabella school years give the present narrative some clever twists and unique contexts, especially to old school mate Theodora (Webb, just excellent) who now runs a support group for victims of assault, someone who is probably the most ill suited person on the planet to do so.
I am sure I still would have thought as highly of this show, as I do, had I not been the victim of a serious sexual assault during its broadcast, something which, for someone of my age, was not only extremely difficult to deal with, as it was to discuss with even my closest friends. This show became my support group. This show helped me on the road to healing from that awful experience and for that Ms Cole, I truly hope, one day, I get to thank you in person. Who would have thought it would serve such a role in my life.
There is so much more I could say about this show and while its not flawless and there were a couple of moments (walking into the sea in Italy) which risked borderline on the ridicule and felt like I was suddenly in a different show, fortunately these were few and the its positives far outweighed those moments.
Michaela Cole is an actress I have been aware of before even Chewing Gum, as I had my Casting Director offer her a role in a small indy we were involved with (Which she gratefully declined as CG was happening at the time) but I always remembered her, due to the uncanny similar energy and physical presence she had to someone I knew once whom sadly is no longer with us. Thus I followed her work with interest.
MC is one of those few individuals that once in a while comes along and rocks the industry to its core, refusing to be bullied by its worn mechanisms nor defined into purely ticking a diversity a box. She has a remarkable grasp on not only her own culture, but how it fits in the narrative of modern society and has defined her own struggles. Yet it is to her credit that she finds completely unique ways to explore the subjects she tackles with a unique narrative tapestry that is both relatable and obtainable to its audience. Her work has a vein of reality which gives a truthful voice to subjects that are difficult to digest, yet refuses, like real life, to give us easy and simple answers. Avoiding cliches of portraying Arabella as simply a victim nor labelling characters who behave reprehensibly, as black and white villains. These insights are invaluable in not only engaging the audience but starting conversations about the issues she chooses to explore and few writers and directors can make this claim about their work.
She is quite simply, one of the most exciting talents the UK has ever produced and long may this continue. Needless to say, I highly recommend this show, you might not like everything you see, but that, is often the reality of life, is it not?
