HBO's YEARS AND YEARS: Another surprising gem from the brilliant Russell T. Davies

We have been graced so far with only two episodes of the six-part series, YEARS AND YEARS, but if the following four are as good -- timely, prescient, frightening and utterly serious (yet with a lovely, light touch) -- this might just be the cable television series of the year. It is the creation of one, Russell T. Davies (shown below), who has already given us Torchwood, Cucumber, Banana, A Very English Scandal and Queer as Folk (among much else), so he hardly needs further bona fides. This new series, however, breaks new ground and may be his best yet.

Mr. Davies begins in the just-about now, in England, a country which, though frightened of the increasing stupidity, venality and craziness of America's Donald Trump, seems to be taking a turn toward increasing right-wing nationalism -- in the person of fledgling politician, Vivienne Rook (played to perfection by Emma Thompson, below).

Technology continues to give us new toys and surprises, a few of which are seen here, but employment and wages also continue to falter, even as the banking industry sleazes to new lows, while the wealthy grow even wealthier.

Same old same old, yet in Years and Years, the focus in on family, one extended example in particular. And Davies has created its individual members with his usual brilliant use of specifics and generics that join to give us a wonderfully alive and believable bunch.

Some of these folk are surprisingly into the politics of the scary-but-all-too-real Ms Rook (above), mostly because she seems to be speaking "truth to power" (just as some foolish Americans imagined was true of Donald Trump). Her slow, steady rise mirrors ironically the decline of our "group hero" family, as it endures problems of love relationships, immigration and deportation, Lehman Brothers-like collapse of banks, and a willingness to allow technology to take over one's entire body. (That last one takes us firmly into Black Mirror territory.)

Yes, we're only one-third into this series, but already we're hooked, frightened, amused, turned-on, and a whole lot more. The ace cast includes Russell Tovey (he of those magnificent ears, above, center right), Rory Kinnear (at left, top row, below), Anne Reid (below, above the computer), and lots more -- each of whom may be doing career-best work.

As is Mr. Davies. The man has given us the here-and-now, as well as a remarkably astute preview of what is to come. And while it ain't pretty, the fact that our family (some of them, anyway) soldiers on and maybe survives, is something to cherish. For as long as it lasts....

This British production, originally seen via the BBC, is being shown here in the USA on HBO, on Monday nights. Set your DVR.

Hélier Cisterne's VANDAL: a smart, sneaky little French film makes its DVD and streaming debut

The story of a troubled teen born of a French mom and an Arab-heritage dad, VANDAL is the work of budding French filmmaker, Hélier Cisterne, and is one of those many small films from abroad that so easily get lost in our current thicket of too-many-movies, too-little-time. This is all the more reason to be grateful to First Run Features (FRF), which is at least giving the film a DVD release. (I'm afraid it would not make many waves, were it to receive a more expensive theatrical opening.)

M. Cisterne, show at left, begins his film with his main character, Chérif, driving around in a stolen car and screaming at the top of his lungs, his face a mirror of frustration that is at last experiencing a kind of release. We cut to a scene in a judge's office, in which we learn that Chérif (played believably by Zinedine Benchenine, shown below, in his screen debut), is a multi-repeat offender, who must now either be sent to reform school or leave his mom's care to go live with an aunt, uncle and cousin in another city, also near where his father lives. A no-brainer for all concerned, the boy is soon ensconced with that other family, the son of whom (very nice job by Emile Berling) looks like a kind of goody-goody nerd type but secretly lives a double life as a member of a gang of graffiti artists.

There a terrific little scene in which young M. Berling (shown below, and son of that fine actor Charles Berling), is asked by Chérif if he has ever been caught. The cousin quietly puts on his glasses, changes his entire demeanor, seemingly from the inside out, and asks with utter surprise, "Pardon me?"

In his new environment, Chérif must deal with his not ungracious but disciplinarian uncle (played by that always interesting actor and filmmaker Jean-Marc Barr, below) and his kindly aunt, Christine (Brigitte Sy, shown in the penultimate photo).

The boy quickly reunites with his dad (Ramzy Bedia, below, left), who soon hooks his son up with a part-time construction job.

While at school, Chérif finds himself growing close to a smart, attractive girl in his class (Chloé Lecerf, below, right), who is wiser by far than this troubled kid.

All of this is brought to a bubble by the graffiti artists, and the fellow they all worship and envy, a guy named Vandal, whose work is everywhere, though the artist himself never seem to get caught.

As often occurs in small European movies, events happen, but nothing proves either defining nor a deal-breaker. Mom (Marina Foïs, above) comes to visit, with Chérif's little brother in tow. Bits and pieces of character are revealed and add to our understanding, while never completing the puzzle.

We leave Vandal at a single, troubling point in our hero's life, just as we entered it at an earlier one. We've met a bunch of interesting characters, all of whom seem more good than bad, more positive than negative, and we hope that Chérif somehow finds his way through the maze of growing up and into some kind of autonomy that works (and is legal).

The movie, in French with English subtitles, runs a short 84 minutes and will be available on DVD -- and probably via a number of streaming sources, too -- this Tuesday, February 10.