Give Us Tomorrow

Give Us Tomorrow is a captivating 1978 British thriller film, enthralling audiences with its gripping story that intertwines suspense, drama, and action. The movie, directed by Donovan Winter, features accomplished actors Sylvia Syms, Derren Nesbitt, and James Kerry, who each deliver stunning performances, propelling the plot forward and adding depth to the storyline.

At the heart of Give Us Tomorrow, we have a potent family drama blended with a gritty hostage thriller, set against the backdrop of a tense home invasion, a plot devise standing as the foundation of the suspense throughout the film. The plot pivots around the tale of a gang of professional criminals who plot an audacious bank heist. Their plan, however, takes a left turn when it involves taking a bank manager's family hostage in their suburban home. The lines between personal motives and the inevitable threat of discovery by the police begin to blur.

Derren Nesbitt, a British actor renowned for his roles in crime dramas and thrillers, is cast as Maskell, the determined ringleader of a gang of criminals. The character of Maskell is complex and multi-dimension, as Nesbitt turns in an exceptional performance as a man of principles who must now face the ethical duality of his choices, and a man living on the edge, pulled between his dangerous lifestyle and his deep-rooted sense of humanity.

Sylvia Syms, recognized for her remarkable contribution to British cinema and theatre, embodies the character Ann Mitchell, the wife of the bank manager taken hostage along with her daughter. She delivers a powerful portrayal of a woman living in fear, yet shows remarkable resilience. Her performance generates a phenomenal range of emotion, from dread and vulnerability to courageous defiance, as she grapples with the disarray unfolding within the confines of her home.

James Kerry, another pillar of the UK’s acting scene, plays an essential role in the narrative's development and offers a remarkable performance, further increasing the film's suspense with an undercurrent of imminent danger.

The movie's tension stems from its unbending time restriction, with the gang holding the family captive overnight with the plan to execute the bank robbery the next morning. As the hours pass, the pressure mounts, relationships intensify, and personalities collide, revealing hidden layers of the characters and their dynamics.

This suspenseful narrative is supported by great cinematography that enhances the film's atmosphere, underlining the drama unfolding within the closed spaces of home and making the audience feel almost a part of the unfolding saga. The score furthermore adds a chilling, suspenseful layer to the movie, strategic in its timing and tone, contributing to the overall enthralling unpredictability of the narrative.

Overall, Give Us Tomorrow dares to explore the complex dynamics within a high-stakes situation, assessing human responses to crisis and the morality of desperate actions. It is a thrilling movie experience that holds its tension right up to the end, offering moments of suspense and dramatic climax. The film demonstrates that even under the guise of the crime thriller genre, human emotions and relationships will always dictate the final outcomes.

Despite its initial release over 40 years ago, the film maintains a timeless appeal with its universal theme of desperation, the inherent human struggle and the ultimate redemption or fall stirred by such extreme situations. Give Us Tomorrow is not just another movie about a bank heist; it is a gritty commentary on human nature, relationships, and the blurred lines between right and wrong in extreme circumstances. It is a must-watch experience for any thriller or drama aficionado.