One of James Norton’s highest-rated films, Nowhere Special, has been an underrated gem, but the drama will be leaving BBC iPlayer at the start of next month
f you haven’t yet watched James Norton’s “tremendous” drama Nowhere Special, which was released back in 2020, then you only have days left to do so on the BBC.
The drama, which has a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score, will be leaving iPlayer at the start of June. The film follows John, played by James Norton, who has been raising his four-year-old son, Michael, as a single dad after Michael’s mother unexpectedly left their lives shortly after his birth.
Although the film will be leaving iPlayer shortly, fans will still be able to stream the film on the likes of Prime Video, Apple TV and Sky, however, a subscription or payment will now be required.
The synopsis of the film, which was loosely based on a true story, reveals: “Their life is a simple one, made up of universal daily rituals, a life of complete dedication and innocent love that reveals the strength of their relationship.
“But John only has a few months to live. Since he has no family to turn to, he will spend the days left to him looking for a new and perfect one to adopt Michael, trying to protect his child from the terrible reality.”
Who stars in Nowhere Special?
The film is led by Happy Valley and House of Guinness star James Norton, who plays John, while his young son is portrayed by Daniel Lamont (The Doll Factory), who was making his professional debut in the industry.
© Alamy Stock PhotoOther characters are portrayed by the likes of Eileen O’Higgins (My Mother and Other Strangers), Valerie O’Connor (The Apprentice), Valene Kane (Blue Lights), Keith McErlean (Flyboys) and Siobhan McSweeney (Derry Girls).
The cast is rounded out by Chris Corrigan (The Terror), Niamh McGrady (The Fall) and Caolan Byrne (The Miniaturist).
Nowhere Special’s reviews
One fan said: “Painful and moving doesn’t cover it. This happens every day. Compelling. Hopeful. Terrible. I’m a window cleaner and a dad. Words can’t even… A deserved watch,” while a second added: “Loved it. Very human, raw, painfully authentic, ever so still in pace and energy but it has the power to move one to its core.”
Meanwhile, a third penned: “Difficult to watch in places (particularly if you are the father of a young boy) but astonishing performances by the two leads make this one of the best films I have ever seen,” and a fourth shared: “You will enjoy the performances, and the simplicity and flow of the story are well-crafted, perfectly complementing the movie’s runtime.”
© Alamy Stock PhotoWriting in The Guardian, Cath Clarke called the film “tremendous” explaining: “The film gets dangerously close to sentimental; what keeps it interesting is the acting. Lamont, who plays little Michael, is a natural. On the page John is ever-so-slightly cliched; he fits the stereotype of the saintly working-class character whose own difficult childhood seems to have left him virtually baggage-free, a heroic selflessly good parent.
“And yet in spite of myself I invested totally in Norton’s spine-tingling, intimate performance; and, in spite of myself, the end had me in floods of tears.”
