Everything has to start with the history of the bbc. As the world's first international broadcasting organization, the bbc was officially established in London on January 1, 1927. In accordance with the Royal Charter, the bbc has survived as a non-commercial entity to this day. The bbc's original slogan was "Nation shall speak peace unto Nation", and today it has become "trust, audiences, quality, creativity, respect". Just from the values, you can see the changes over the centuries, not just one day. power.
The bbc is closely related to politics, but to a certain extent, it is separated from politics, or higher than politics. This is a pair of brothers whose relationship is sometimes close and sometimes hostile. The employees of the bbc often seem to be walking a balance board, which is subtle. Sloping the ground may lead to unnecessary trouble, ranging from being ostracized, to exile in severe cases. In such a context, the hour kicked off the film with a few words from Freddie.
"the newsreels are dead.
we have bored the public for too long.
give me this opportunity and i will prove it"
, these three short sentences not only outline Freedie's character and ambition, but also vaguely plant the context for the whole play.
After World War II, two forces formed within the bbc. One of them tended to cooperate with the government to stabilize people's hearts. This is understandable. For the British Empire, which has already been riddled with holes, the illusion of broadcasting singing and dancing may be a little comforting. That's where the first episode of Freddie complaining about the endless social hunt at aristocratic banquets after the show was tedious. At this time, freddie is just a broadcasting assistant, but this flash of daily news broadcast just happened to respond to the first sentence of the opening three sentences, the newsreels are dead.
Another force corresponding to the conservatives must be Revolutionary, which leads to the sexy and charming Bel, the heroine of the play. Champagne-colored wavy shawl hair, royal blue tight pencil skirt, crisp and powerful high-heeled shoes, not to mention the confident smile on Bel's face. However, what attracted me the most was her brooch. The camera flashed by and it was not real. After repeatedly pausing the playback, I realized that the brooch pattern should be taken from the coat of arms of King's College Cambridge. If this is the case, it is another foreshadowing. Here Not to mention for now.
Bel got the right to produce a new show. This is not X Factor or BGT, but a news show. Even in the bbc today, news shows are the top priority of review, not to mention the fact that in the last century five ten years. And a new news program, for all participants, from the producer to the end coffee girl, is a major opportunity that can change the fate of life. bel and lix hug and celebrate, echoing the third sentence of the opening, give me this opportunity and i will prove it.
When freddie came home later, through a brief conversation between him and his father, he could see how the general British people think about the bbc news program, the usual rubbish. The director cleverly didn't go into a long discussion about how the news program is garbage, but through the situational soap opera broadcast on TV. Come to the side to highlight the theme. On the national evening show, the bbc shows a vulgar comedy of men mocking women's bodies, which may confuse young viewers who have not experienced the news reforms of the 1950s.
But in those days, this kind of cheesy show was not only in various clubs, but also active in the national media. Just imagine that just after the war, the people are eager to know more about domestic and foreign developments, while the bbc, a national media, broadcasts hypocritical aristocratic life, trivial matters in other countries, rough and lowly serial dramas, and ordinary people as audiences , how can you not be numb? ! At this time, this scene just fits the second sentence at the beginning, we have bored the public for too long
. As for the positioning and direction of the program, bel and freddie have different views. The former believes that balancing the news around the world is the key, while the latter tends to track breaking news and challenge existing news programs.
This passage not only shows the different characters of bel and freddie, but more importantly, it speaks out about the various attempts and dilemmas of the bbc in its century-old development. It can be seen from the subsequent episodes that the hour is to broadcast major events and expose the political truth as a selling point. This does not mean that Bel's views are completely wrong. On the contrary, because the bbc was positioned in the early stage of the big news with the political stage as the center, while ignoring other non-London cities, especially the northern cities, the bbc developed slowly in places such as Manchester City and Liverpool. Bel's conversation with freddie hints at two modes of development in the bbc's groping.
I secretly thought that the highlight of the first episode happened in freddie's interview with bel and hector for the first time. Let’s talk about the interview first. As soon as Freddie entered the door, he was dismissed by the manager at the time. There is an interesting little detail here. The supervisor is watching the long-distance running competition. You must know that the finish line of the 1908 Olympic marathon is just outside the BBC's broadcasting building. Long-distance running has a deep relationship with the BBC.
Cut into the topic from long-distance running, and turn to talk about the innovation of news shooting techniques, and we can't help but say that freddie is extremely smart. Facing the director, freddie dared to say that news is a fleeting history that should be reported, a moment that the audience can't miss. Such rhetoric, but the supervisor is indifferent, and just to capture the idea that the journalists who are exposed in freddie's words can also stand in front of the camera. It may be too sensational to use the word outrageous, but freddie definitely touched one of the unspoken rules of the bbc, as for which one it is, it happens to be related to hector who is flirting with bel.
Hector, well-dressed, with impeccable hairstyle, handsome posture, with a hint of cynicism in his expression. (Probably the only flaw is the accent of Dominic West, who plays hector, which is not at all upper-class, if he doesn't speak, it's like being in a 21st-century London Underground station). Through his guesses about the nature of bel's work, we can see the attitude of the BBC towards female workers at that time, the beautiful empty vases, and the emotional adjustment of men's work intervals. Such a playboy-like figure is the anchor candidate of the hour, and the talented freddie has been ruthlessly rejected. It is estimated that many people will be angry.
In the elevator, Freddie complained rambles, Bel was patient at first, and then fought back. Just a few words of confrontation revealed one of the bbc's unspoken rules - class determines position. Freddie said bel and hector were a category of people who enjoyed a certain level of privilege at the bbc, who graduated from Oxbridge, were in charge of the core business and had a voice in all kinds of decisions.
In the bbc, there have been several legends, one of which is the so-called Cambridge Old Boys Club. When the celebration programs such as hector and bel were born, there was a bridge section where bel sat alone on one side while the other was on the other side. It is a group of old men drinking and talking. If the bel brooch mentioned above is indeed from Cambridge, it is in line with the unspoken rule that class determines position.
Hector (a famous department, graduated from a famous school, male) is greater than bel (graduated from a famous school, his mother is an actor, female) is greater than freddie (graduated from a second-class school, no family, male)
Under this rule, talent is not taken into consideration, and a person's background determines the trajectory of his life. Most people will choose to accept reality, but freddie, the eccentric and talented freddie, chooses to hit back with fate. When arguing with editorial directors about press releases, Freddie said, don't we have the right to question? It's a pity that in the bbc in those days, that kind of power didn't exist, or that no one would risk losing their job or even their life to ask taboo topics.
In such a depressing and boring reality, without freedom of speech, a flower named the hour slowly unearthed.
The premiere of The Hour was by no means amazing, and even the word mediocre was a little polite. Clumsy, blunt, rigid, unprofessional...not like the bbc's consistent quality, but like a parody of today's youth. Hector's failure to host is partly due to freddie's malicious non-cooperation towards him, but more because hector himself is not well prepared, as bel said, hector's charm is becoming more and more useless, in a ratings-fed food In the industry, handsome appearance can bring a certain audience, but it is by no means a long-term solution. The quarrel between Bel and hector also showed Bel's incompetence as a producer and his inability to control his staff, leading to chaos and disorder in the show.
It seems that the hour has entered the countdown to death. The employees who don't know how to cooperate, the nervous producer, the host who has no appearance, all these are mixed together. No wonder Clarence complained to Bel in the elevator and read newspaper comments. This is an ark that seeped water and was about to sink just after sailing, and the two men who could change this fate had their first face-to-face conversation in the second episode.
Class still determines the position, Freddie guessed Hector's origin unexpectedly, and at the same time, Freddie also introduced himself to Hector in a self-deprecating manner, a first-class student in a second-class university, working hard but still far from the core circle of the BBC. How could Hector, who even took his name from the darling of an ancient Greek epic, understand freddie's pain? However, freddie misjudged Hector. If he didn't turn around and leave in a hurry, he would see Hector playfully saying: You are a snob. These words came from the mouths of hectors in the upper class, but they were not condemned or criticized, but with a certain degree of appreciation.
The drafting meeting was still a mess, Bel's management incompetence was once again reflected incisively and delicately, and clarence pointed out mercilessly, maybe all of this is because you are a woman. It will take nearly a decade for the idea of equality between men and women to become widespread in Britain, and bel, who is in transition, will undoubtedly endure all kinds of sexist rhetoric. Compared with other occupations, the bbc gives women more rights and respects, and correspondingly exerts strong pressure. Bel's way to relieve pressure and problems is to show her personal charm as a woman. In other words, Bel knows clearly. Knowing that Hector is interested in her, Freddie has a crush on her.
Afterwards, Bel adopted various breaking methods, encouraged freddie with tenderness, and flirted with hector calmly. Gradually, the two began to cooperate. The three of them searched for information at freddie's house together, which became a good start. Freddie still laughed at hector's stupidity, but hector didn't get angry anymore, his eyes almost stopped on bel. It must be said that Bel's strategy has been fruitful, but in this day and night, Bel has pushed himself on a disgraceful emotional path.
Heart-to-heart talks in the studio, ambiguous squeezes on the back of hands, and umbrellas in the rainstorm, the sexual attraction between Bel and Hector is getting stronger and stronger. In Bel's heart, Freddie is like a stubborn, talented and intelligent child. Bel feels that he has a responsibility and even an unexplainable obligation to take care of and tolerate Freddie. She gives Freddie endless patience and love, but she refuses to offer her love again.
To bel, Hector is like a knight who suddenly broke into a lot of trouble. This knight not only has no shrewd brain, but also brings a noble lady wife. Bel should have avoided the fear, but instead flew on like a headless fly. Hector doesn't have the talent and confidence of freddie, but he never minds expressing his feelings and thoughts. On the way to send Bel home, hector is frightened to death, which makes Bel chuckle, and then hector blurts out to Bel praise.
What Hector did was that freddie would not do what he was more afraid to do. Bel can only get ridicule and sarcasm around freddie, while hector gets the love and praise he desperately wants. In an instant, the balance of spirit and flesh was tilted.
The story did not stop in the private life of the three people, which cannot be called a triangular relationship, but quickly turned to the program production review. McCain, on behalf of the ruling party, made regulatory requirements for news broadcasts, reviewing scripts before live broadcasts, so that news could be revised in a timely manner against the authorities. McCain is by no means the first party representative in the BBC's history to make such a request, nor will he be the last.
Fortunately, the bbc's operating funds are not allocated from the treasury by the ruling party, but by the way of viewing license fees, and the public pays for the program, which largely avoids being accused by the government of becoming the mouthpiece of the party and government. For this reason, bel can justifiably refuse McCain's request, but is it really free to report completely uncontrollably? There is always an insurmountable gulf between ideal and reality.
The moment bel chose to refuse, she already understood, and since the hour has stood on the opposite side of the government, any flaw will become a reason to ban the show. It's not that Bel is cute and stupid, but unconsciously, her behavior echoes Freddie's will, defying the privileged class, and aiming to reveal the truth. If the truth is in favor of the ruling party, the show will be greatly praised, see hafiz's episode of the hour.
After a very happy show, the hour ushered in a short and passionate country hunting weekend. The more than friendship between Freddie and Bel made Hector's wife misunderstood, and also made Hector eat a jar of idle vinegar. Freddie and bel were bouncing on the big bed, lying side by side chatting unscrupulously, and freddie's casual words could make bel laugh out loud. They can enter each other's rooms at will, whether the other is wearing makeup or taking a shower.
Brushing teeth together and growing old together should belong to lovers, but freddie and bel did it without any hesitation, as if everything should be taken for granted. He is her james, she is his moneypenny, standing side by side, fighting side by side. If freddie confesses to bel at this time, maybe everyone will be happy, hector will retreat, and freddie and bel will be in harmony. But the three of them are likely to miss an opportunity to examine their hearts and explore their deep desires, leaving a trace of regret.
In the country house, all adults play hide and seek, hector finds bel, and bel says to hector, why do adults always play this childish game? I always feel that Bel's words mean something else. This game is like freddie's heart. It is erratic and requires people to run and guess, but often returns without success. Even if they find it in the end, they are exhausted. Hector provided bel with another kind of game, without bel having to worry about it, she just stood there, waiting for hector to hug her, kiss her, and satisfy her fantasies and desires for adult men.
Bel and hector fully interpret the old and fresh word of infatuation in the mansion, whether it is kissing or stroking, it seems that Bel is deeply in the vortex of eroticism and cannot extricate himself. Physically, maybe, but mentally it's far from a few kisses. In a dark room, Bel is lying on the side of the bed, and Freddie is standing at the end of the bed, chanting softly, why is it you, the door of the heart suddenly opens and closes, only I know that the words in your brows flow, it seems to be more serene than a thousand roses. No one, even the fine rain, can't make this beautiful and soft weed. Hearing this, Bel had a complex expression on his face, only one pair of eyes gleamed in the darkness. She knew the name of his beloved poem, and he would fall in love with it because it was like her.
At the end of the weekend, freddie is still busy uncovering the truth about his friend's death. Hector gets into bel's bed as he fights kish. At first glance, hector seduces Bel and succeeds, creating a bad relationship. But if you taste it carefully, from beginning to end, the initiative or decision-making power is in Bel's hands. Sometimes she is cold to Hector, and sometimes she is unbearable. Like a man who only seeks pleasure and does not talk about love affairs.
The ratings skyrocketed and the hector was gratified again, and it seemed bel and the hour were making strides toward the light. The proud bel was speechless when asked by lix: hector is really dazzling, please enjoy the moment bel, his ambition is his charm and passion. And bel yours?
At this time, Lix already knew that Bel's success was not due to her ability and professionalism, but more due to the great help of Freddie and Hector. It is possible for a short time to wrap these two people around him through the invisible thread of emotion, but it is not a long-term solution. Bel has no time to think about the implication of lix, so he ignores another big rule of the bbc. If you want to be the core, you must have the ability to be unique. This ability can be Freddie's super acuity and perseverance in the news, or it can be lix's pervasive anonymous source, or hector's upper-class network.
Freddie's birthday party can be described as a couple of joys and sorrows, the female secretary who met the man he liked, the assistant who had a crush but failed, and the hector who broke up with his wife and went out for an excuse, and was sad because of the departure of hector Bel...Freddie, who silently watched Bel's mood changes, was smoking a cigarette, while jokingly described the future of the two to Bel, a big house, a seaplane, a pair of children...
Accompanied by the intoxicating music, Bel was dazed with some longing, but while joking, she showed her true feelings: we will be happy! Freddie immediately replied: We don't have to go anywhere, let alone meet people around us. No other words, staring at each other, smiling, still smiling, it seems that the future is not too far away. Maybe one step further, one more sentence, or just a light kiss on the lips, and the layer of paper that has separated the two of them for many years will be pierced. It's just that neither Bel nor Freddie have the courage to break the emotional boundaries that have been carefully maintained for a long time.
"Do you love him? Did he tell you that you're very beautiful? Bel Rowley..." freddie finally said something to Bel that had been hidden in his heart for a long time, before Bel didn't have time to think and respond, hector hurriedly came among them. Bel smiled brightly, and it was also a smile of relief. Fortunately, hector appeared. She didn't have to respond to Freddie's sudden warm confession. When she woke up tomorrow, she and Freddie could still be friends back, a pair of close and inseparable friends.
This night, bel and hector, freddie and lix, the former was imprisoned by desire, and the latter relied on snuggling to keep warm to eliminate loneliness, but the word love seemed to be hidden, but thought it never appeared.
Bel's apartment, freddie is familiar with the road, Bel takes the wine he brought like taking care of a child, prepares food for him, and touches the tip of his nose to feel his body temperature. The two of them carried food and smoked cigarettes, curled up on the sofa and watched the news leisurely, exchanging different views on things, bel complained about the rules of news broadcasting, and freddie thought of a solution for her.
This point cannot but praise freddie's shrewdness, the bbc, as a neutral institution, is not allowed to make any subjective comments, and offenders from the program team to the host will be held accountable. The same is true now. Some time ago, the nude photos of Prince Harry were released, causing public outcry, but the bbc must abide by the rules not to report the matter directly. But if you keep your mouth shut, you may be accused of subjugating the royal family. After thinking hard, the BBC quoted the Sun's report on Prince Harry in the news, from the photo material to the comments, so as to avoid the disturbance of the system and report the news truthfully. Freddie also uses the same method in the play to express his words through other media platforms.
Besides, hector, who has been unable to speak, has red wine in his glass, but it is difficult to swallow. From freddie entering the room and interacting with bel, to bel's admiration you are brilliant, it seems like thousands of needles are raining in hector's heart, he is obviously bel's concubine, obviously the two have just been lingering, why? As soon as freddie arrives, he drinks bitters like a bystander? With this kind of annoyed mood, hector took the initiative to invite Ying to participate in the filming of the parade crowd. Freddie and hector bickered and made an appointment.
When Freddie left, he stood in front of bel's closed door. Bel and hector were laughing from the inside. Freddie sighed, sad and helpless, and walked away with his head down. Inside the house, hector pointed out to Bel: Your attitude towards freddie is very different. Bel didn't even retort, just said you don't be a fool to end the conversation.
Facing the intimacy between freddie and lix, bel impulsively hinted to lix in the office area, the technique is rough and has no skills at all. Don't take it too seriously. Lix's answer was concise and powerful: it is nothing, his heart is still with you. Bel argues that he and freddie are just friends, and lix scoffs at her attitude of having no money here.
The arrival of Hector's wife was unexpected and reasonable. Through the conversation with Marnie, bel learned the other side of hector. Bel's anger was not so much because she was just one of the many mistresses of the hector, but because she was angry that she was still following her mother's path. Severe wind and rain hit.
It's not just the show itself that's crumbling, but the teamwork that bel, freddie and hector have built over time. Clarence's ultimatum clears Bel and returns to work. But Hector on the other side was unwilling to end there. Hector's confession sounded the death knell of his relationship with Bel. Rather than being hector's wife or mistress, bel wants to live for himself, and that's why bel calmly tells hector: go back to your wife.
Hector, who was dumped by bel, finally couldn't hold back his anger when he faced another round of freddie's taunting, and opened his mouth to fight back at freddie. After a brief awkward silence, freddie asked a priceless sentence: "hector, do you think I'm a weak person?"
"You fight every day, I wouldn't use the word weak to describe you." Hector said Say.
These two lines of dialogue do not remind one of the bbc's current values: we are one bbc, great things happen when we work together
It is through sincere cooperation that the most glorious and final broadcast of the hour begins. The live room and the executive bar, two locations, are performed simultaneously. McCain's face was British weather, alternating between cloudy and sunny, and often turned into a ferocious shower.
bel: The hour's female producer, for the first time, did not consider her personal future, but chose to reveal the truth, even if the price of this behavior was painful, even if her hard-won status was gone and never returned. Not only bel, but the entire team at the hour seemed to be shrouded in some kind of dazzling but not dazzling brilliance, their eyes were firm, and they were convinced that the work they were doing was just. Although the hour is a fictional film, who would know if there was a similar scene in the history of the bbc? Not forced by politics, dare to speak the voice of the people and tell the truth.
If you don't consider the age, and match this scene with a song for the occasion, it must be from the "Les Miserables" song Do You Hear the People Sing?
Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men?
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!
The last broadcast of The Hour, like a powerful voice of the people, sings about injustice and justice, and sings about lies and truth. When the song ended, there was thunderous applause. The hour is not over yet, and freddie's interview came to an abrupt end due to government interference. That's the case. This small step, this step of making a sound of freedom, will be remembered in the history of news and will become the most splendid one.
When everything turns from prosperous to dull, when the truth comes out, when everyone gradually disperses, bel comes to freddie, it should be to say something, but what can you say, one of them is afraid of love and marriage, and is willing to get a short time by hanging out Bel, who is happy and satisfied with the flesh, is a talented freddie who is born with paranoid words, extremely unreasonable, mean and neurotic.
Bel: I hate you
Freddie: I hate you too
who said that only those four letters must be considered as a confession, true love is not based on a certain word or a certain sentence.
He's her james, she's his moneypenny, that's enough.
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