THE KATE DICTATOR
Winslet is onto another HBO winner
THE REGIME
MONDAY,
SKY ATLANTIC, 9PM
KATE WINSLET takes the lead role in a HBO series for the third time, following Wall Street period drama Trust and the acclaimed Mare of Easttown, yet her input (she also exec-produces) is only one of many factors to recommend it. Another is the directing talent on offer: the six episodes are directed, three apiece, by the eminent British filmmaker Stephen Frears and Jessica Hobbs, who won an Emmy for her work helming The Crown.
As well as Winslet, the cast includes Matthias Schoenaerts (Django) and Andrea Riseborough (The Death of Stalin), with Martha Plimpton and Hugh Grant appearing in later episodes.
But what is this project that has attracted such Hollywood heavyweights? The Regime is an American political satire that charts events within the corridors of power in an authoritarian central European country – however as the series progresses it becomes increasingly apparent that the writers have more to say about the current state of American politics than it does Europe or anywhere else.
Winslet plays Chancellor Elena Vernham, an imperious and impressive figure who is preparing for Victory Day – when her new adviser Herbert Zubak (Schoenaerts) arrives at the palace, where he learns about ruler’s strict health precautions.
It’s through subjects like this – public health – that what on the surface is an absurdist satire full of outlandish moments somehow manages to simultaneously feel very close to home indeed.
Lead writer Will Tracy deserves much credit here. He’s the man behind many of Succession’s finest and sharpest moments and, much like in that smash-hit media-empire drama, the focus is on the ruthless head of a powerful group, whose authoritarian and unilateral style of leadership leaves them answerable to few – and equal parts more powerful and more precarious.
Grant’s star turn comes in episode four, and sees him playing far-right populist Elena’s left-wing predecessor Edward Keplinger. Edward is a convincing and credible character, a fact which subliminally underlines the fact that even sensible governments can give way to absurd populists in no time at all. Chilling.