Not Sophie’s Choice – Short Film Starring Katherine Tate and Alex Macqueen

Sometimes, children discover things about their parents that perhaps they shouldn’t have. As Oscar Wilde once said: 'Children begin by loving their parents; as they grow older they judge them; sometimes they forgive them.'  In Sophie’s case, that might be quite unlikely as she has developed the unfortunate tendency of coming across her parents at some fairly unforgivable moments .

Of course, the best thing to do is to sit Sophie down and to explain what has happened in terms that a child can understand and – of course – outline what happens next, underlining at many moments through the conversation just how much they love her.  And that’s exactly what these parents do.  Katherine Tate and Alex Macqueen shine here as the parents, full or remorse and guilt for what their daughter has been through – and Skye Lucia Degruttola is excellent as their daughter - it must have been hard for her to keep a straight face watching these two pillars of British comedy go through their motions.  This may have to be filed under “peculiarly British comedy” as I am unsure whether other cultures may fully “get” this or even whey we might find it amusing.  Not Sophie's Choice gave me a chuckle, though – and I think that’s what it sets out to do. Job done.