I remembered seeing After Thomas on the Christmas of 2006 and absolutely adoring it. Finding the tape that we recorded it on while clearing up I sat down to watch it, hoping that my positive memories of it had not changed. Thank goodness those memories were no fluke. After Thomas was amazing. I specifically remember thinking that it was one of the better dramas on that Christmas, and I still think that.
After Thomas looks stunning. You can never go wrong with skillful photography, picturesque scenery and evocative attention to detail, and After Thomas had exactly that. The music was also beautifully composed, never too obtrusive or too little but just right and just the right tone for the drama's mood.
The writing is thoughtful and poignant with Kyle's Kyle loves Mummy really standing out as a line that truly resonates with you emotionally. I also have to credit the story, it is a well paced and beautifully constructed one that anyone can identify with. It is also very affecting, this is not the sentimentality that feels too much or feels preachy, this sentimentality is genuine and written and incorporated so well and carefully that you care for the story and the characters and their predicaments.
Underneath all this though, you do feel a glimmer of hope, the subject matter for After Thomas is a brave one and being autistic myself is one I can personally engage with, and seeing how Kyle behaves it made me think and gave me hope. The acting is wonderful throughout, the dog is adorable and very convincing, and as great as Keeley Hawes, Ben Miles and Shiela Hancock are it was the remarkable performance of Andrew Byrne that moved me most.
Overall, truly amazing and anyone who hasn't seen it yet and plans to, I advise you to have some tissues at the ready, I myself needed more than a few at the end. 10/10 Bethany Cox
