The State (British TV series): Difference between revisions

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The series was widely praised by viewers and critics.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/entertainment-arts-41035251 The State: Viewers and critics praise Channel 4 IS drama], ''[[BBC News]]'', 24 August 2017</ref><ref>Joe Nerssessian, [http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/television/tv-news/channel-4s-the-state-lauded-for-important-insight-into-isis-36063557.html Channel 4’s The State lauded for ‘important’ insight into Isis], [[Press Association]], 23 August 2017 (via ''[[Irish Independent]]'')</ref> [[The Guardian]] wrote that "this Isis drama is ... gripping and genuinely enlightening",<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/aug/21/the-state-review-isis-peter-kosminsky</ref> and [[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]] noted that "viewers on Twitter praised its stars and creators for 'capturing how barbaric and evil ISIS are'." <ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2017/08/23/gut-wrenching-haunting-channel-4s-state-lauded-important-insight/</ref>
The series was widely praised by viewers and critics.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/entertainment-arts-41035251 The State: Viewers and critics praise Channel 4 IS drama], ''[[BBC News]]'', 24 August 2017</ref><ref>Joe Nerssessian, [http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/television/tv-news/channel-4s-the-state-lauded-for-important-insight-into-isis-36063557.html Channel 4’s The State lauded for ‘important’ insight into Isis], [[Press Association]], 23 August 2017 (via ''[[Irish Independent]]'')</ref> [[The Guardian]] wrote that "this Isis drama is ... gripping and genuinely enlightening",<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/aug/21/the-state-review-isis-peter-kosminsky</ref> and [[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]] noted that "viewers on Twitter praised its stars and creators for 'capturing how barbaric and evil ISIS are'." <ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2017/08/23/gut-wrenching-haunting-channel-4s-state-lauded-important-insight/</ref>


⚫
Before the drama aired, [[Richard Kemp]], a former advisor to the UK cabinet on counter-terrorism, warned that it would be a "recruiting sergeant" for ISIS, a view prominently reported by various tabloid newspapers. However, the idea that the drama made ISIS glamorous or attractive was roundly rejected by most reviewers.<ref>eg Ben Lawrence, [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2017/08/24/state-finale-review-kosminskys-isil-drama-no-recruitment-video/ The State, finale review: Kosminsky's Isil drama was no recruitment video], ''[[Daily Telegraph]]'', 24 August 2017</ref><ref>Keith Watson, [https://www.metro.news/daesh-drama-tells-a-story-that-the-world-needs-to-hear/720279/ Daesh drama tells a story that the world needs to hear], ''[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]]'', 24 August 2017</ref><ref>[http://www.private-eye.co.uk/issue-1451/columnists "EYE tv" column], ''[[Private Eye]]'' 1451, 25 August 2017. ''"even casual viewing revealed that, as the characters are deluded idealists who rapidly became disillusioned by the psychopathic murders, rapes and gender apartheid practised by IS, it was hard to accuse the show of sanitising IS or promoting Syrian jihad as an alternative to university entrance"''</ref>
Before the drama aired, [[Richard Kemp]], a former advisor to the UK cabinet on counter-terrorism, warned that it would be a "recruiting sergeant" for ISIS, a view prominently reported by ''[[The Sun]]'', the ''[[Daily Mail]]'', the ''[[Daily Express]]'' and ''[[Breitbart]]'',<ref>Hugo Gye,
[https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/4290240/terror-experts-slam-channel-4-drama-the-state-which-shows-isis-fighters-having-fun-in-syria/ Terror experts slam Channel 4 drama The State which shows ISIS fighters having fun in Syria], ''[[The Sun (United Kingdom)|The Sun]]'', 21 August 2017<br /> Michael Knowles,
⚫
[http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/844151/TV-drama-The-State-recruiting-tool-ISIS-army-chief Jihadi TV drama The State ‘a recruiting tool for IS’, says former army chief], ''[[Daily Express]]'', 21 August 2017<br /> Vanessa Allen, [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4807910/Fury-Channel-4-refuses-axe-State.html Fury as Channel 4 refuses to axe controversial drama glorifying ISIS days after the Barcelona attack], ''[[Daily Mail]]'', 20 August 2017<br />[http://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/08/21/uk-public-broadcaster-airs-sympathetic-isis-drama-by-anti-israel-director-days-after-barcelona-attack/ UK: Public broadcaster airs sympathetic ISIS drama by anti-Israel director days after Barcelona attack], ''[[Breitbart]]'', 21 August 2017.</ref> with the ''Daily Mail'' going so far as to give the first episode a zero-star review.<ref>Christopher Stevens, [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-4807862/CHRISTOPHER-STEVENS-reviews-Channel-4-s-State.html Pure poison... it's like a Nazi recruiting film from the 1930s], ''Daily Mail'', 21 August 2017</ref> However, the idea that the drama made ISIS glamorous or attractive was roundly rejected by most reviewers.<ref>eg Ben Lawrence, [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2017/08/24/state-finale-review-kosminskys-isil-drama-no-recruitment-video/ The State, finale review: Kosminsky's Isil drama was no recruitment video], ''[[Daily Telegraph]]'', 24 August 2017</ref><ref>Keith Watson, [https://www.metro.news/daesh-drama-tells-a-story-that-the-world-needs-to-hear/720279/ Daesh drama tells a story that the world needs to hear], ''[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]]'', 24 August 2017</ref><ref>[http://www.private-eye.co.uk/issue-1451/columnists "EYE tv" column], ''[[Private Eye]]'' 1451, 25 August 2017. ''"even casual viewing revealed that, as the characters are deluded idealists who rapidly became disillusioned by the psychopathic murders, rapes and gender apartheid practised by IS, it was hard to accuse the show of sanitising IS or promoting Syrian jihad as an alternative to university entrance"''</ref>


However some had viewers suggested that its broadcast should have been delayed, so soon after the August 17 terrorist attack in Barcelona.<ref>http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/film-tv/news/isis-drama-the-state-should-have-been-delayed-say-viewers-36051507.html</ref>
However some had viewers suggested that its broadcast should have been delayed, so soon after the August 17 terrorist attack in Barcelona.<ref>http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/film-tv/news/isis-drama-the-state-should-have-been-delayed-say-viewers-36051507.html</ref>

Revision as of 21:37, 26 August 2017

The State
Written byPeter Kosminsky
Directed byPeter Kosminsky
StarringOny Uhiara
Sam Otto
Shavani Cameron
Ryan McKen
ComposerDebbie Wiseman
Country of originUnited Kingdom
No. of episodes4
Production
ProducerSteve Clark-Hall
CinematographyGavin Finney
Running time4 x 48 mins [1]
Original release
NetworkChannel 4
Release20 August (2017-08-20) –
23 August 2017 (2017-08-23)

The State is a four-part television serial written and directed by Peter Kosminsky, dramatising the experiences of young British Muslims going to Syria to join Islamic State.

The series was broadcast in the UK by Channel 4 on successive nights between 20 and 23 August 2017, and shown worldwide by National Geographic, showing in Australia from 23 August,[2] and premiering in the United States on 18 and 19 September,[3][4] In France it will also be shown by Canal+ from 4 September.[5][6][7]

Cast

Production

The series was green-lit in July 2016, following extensive research by Kosminsky.[13][14][15] Most of the location filming was undertaken in Spain later that autumn.[16]

Reception

The first episode was watched by 1.4 million viewers (excluding subsequent 'catch-up' viewing), described by Broadcast magazine as a "solid start".[17] However, Channel 4 is unlikely to make money from the series -- according to outgoing chief creative officer Jay Hunt such dramas are only possible for the channel if they can be cross-subsidised by more populist programmes, such as Great British Bake Off.[18]

The series was widely praised by viewers and critics.[19][20] The Guardian wrote that "this Isis drama is ... gripping and genuinely enlightening",[21] and The Telegraph noted that "viewers on Twitter praised its stars and creators for 'capturing how barbaric and evil ISIS are'." [22]

Before the drama aired, Richard Kemp, a former advisor to the UK cabinet on counter-terrorism, warned that it would be a "recruiting sergeant" for ISIS, a view prominently reported by various tabloid newspapers. However, the idea that the drama made ISIS glamorous or attractive was roundly rejected by most reviewers.[23][24][25]

However some had viewers suggested that its broadcast should have been delayed, so soon after the August 17 terrorist attack in Barcelona.[26]

References

  1. ^ Tom Houghton, Nine-year-old to star in Channel 4 ISIS drama, Wales Online, 1 March 2017
  2. ^ The State, National Geographic Australia. Accessed 23 August.
  3. ^ Stewart Clarke, First Look at Channel 4 and Nat Geo’s ISIS Drama ‘The State’, Variety, 13 July 2017
  4. ^ The State, National Geographic channel. Accessed 22 August 2017.
  5. ^ THE STATE à partir du 4 septembre sur CANAL+, Canal+. Accessed 22 August 2017.
  6. ^ Canal+ achète The State, une série sur l’État islamique, Le Figaro tv mag, 28 July 2017
  7. ^ Fox Seals First Sale for Nat Geo ISIS Drama ‘The State’ With Canal Plus Deal, Variety, 3 August 2017
  8. ^ a b c d Character biogs for The State, Channel 4, 8 August 2017
  9. ^ Interview with Ony Uhiara, who plays Shakira Boothe, Channel 4, 8 August 2017
  10. ^ Interview with Sam Otto who plays Jalal Hossein, Channel 4, 8 August 2017
  11. ^ Interview with Shavani Cameron, who plays Ushna Khaleel, Channel 4, 8 August 2017
  12. ^ Interview with Ryan McKen who plays Ziyaad Kadar, Channel 4, 8 August 2017
  13. ^ Leo Barraclough, National Geographic, Channel 4 Greenlight ISIS Drama, Variety, 20 July 2016
    Lucy Morris, Channel 4 taps Wolf Hall's Peter Kosminsky​ to write new scripted ISIS drama, Digital Spy, 20 July 2016
  14. ^ Georg Szalai, U.K.'s Channel 4 Developing ISIS Drama, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 October 2014
  15. ^ Lisa de Moraes, Peter Kosminsky Made ‘The State’ As Antidote To Simplistic Thinking About ISIS Recruits – TCA, Deadline.com, 25 July 2017
    Reid Nakamura, Nat Geo’s ISIS Drama ‘The State’ Aims to Humanize Terrorist Group, The Wrap, 25 July 2017
  16. ^ Peter Kosminsky, tweet, 8 November 2016
  17. ^ Alex Farber, The State recruits 1.4m, Brodacast, 21 August 2017
  18. ^ Tim Dams, Jay Hunt warns of impact of ad downturn on budgets, Televisual, 23 August 2017
    Cameron Clarke, Channel 4 chief expects Great British Bake Off ratings to fall well short of BBC's 14m, thedrum.com, 23 August 2017
  19. ^ The State: Viewers and critics praise Channel 4 IS drama, BBC News, 24 August 2017
  20. ^ Joe Nerssessian, Channel 4’s The State lauded for ‘important’ insight into Isis, Press Association, 23 August 2017 (via Irish Independent)
  21. ^ https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/aug/21/the-state-review-isis-peter-kosminsky
  22. ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2017/08/23/gut-wrenching-haunting-channel-4s-state-lauded-important-insight/
  23. ^ eg Ben Lawrence, The State, finale review: Kosminsky's Isil drama was no recruitment video, Daily Telegraph, 24 August 2017
  24. ^ Keith Watson, Daesh drama tells a story that the world needs to hear, Metro, 24 August 2017
  25. ^ "EYE tv" column, Private Eye 1451, 25 August 2017. "even casual viewing revealed that, as the characters are deluded idealists who rapidly became disillusioned by the psychopathic murders, rapes and gender apartheid practised by IS, it was hard to accuse the show of sanitising IS or promoting Syrian jihad as an alternative to university entrance"
  26. ^ http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/film-tv/news/isis-drama-the-state-should-have-been-delayed-say-viewers-36051507.html

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/aug/21/channel-4-defends-isis-drama-the-state-after-criticism

External links

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