There’s a moment in the 1993 BBC TV movie Wall of Silence that utterly blew my 17-year-old mind; some Charedi Jews are about to get beaten up, when suddenly they transform into krav maga ninjas and batter the crap out of their attackers. I was so excited, ‘Kickass Jews!' Now I can’t speak to the veracity of that scene actually occurring in Stamford Hill, but with the BBC’s new drama Ridley Road being inspired by true events, we’ve been gifted a welcome real life correction to the stereotype of the passive Jew, and a timely inspirational reminder that when push comes to shove, we shove back.
I’m also grateful because whilst I’ve read books about the Battle of Cable Street and The 43 Group, I was previously ignorant to this particular struggle in 1960s London. Carnaby Street may’ve been all mini skirts, mods, and mop-tops, but the area surrounding Ridley Road was Molotov cocktails. It was in response to the 34 arson attacks targeting Synagogues and Jewish buildings from a resurgent Nazi movement, that The 62 Group was created. And respond they did.
This is the setting of Jo Bloom’s novel, passionately adapted here over 4 hour-long episodes by award-winning writer Sarah Solemani. The story’s told through the character of Vivien Epstein, running away from an unhappy match in Manchester, although you’d think most people would be very happy with the enticement of the ‘largest ever engagement photo in the Jewish Chronicle.’ Chasing down her true love to London, this was before the invention of J-date, Vivien is shocked upon finding him entrenched amongst fascists.
There’s been a few comments about casting, specifically the hypocrisy of non-Jews portraying Jews, a practice all but banned when it comes to any other minority. But does it make any difference when it comes to the actual performances? Yes and no. Agnes O’Casey, promoted straight to the lead in her first TV role is eminently watchable, but depending on how finely tuned your Jewdar is, there’s the occasional whiff of The Marvellous Mrs. Maisel’s. Some of the supporting roles let off a pong.
Not so though with Eddie Marsan, who may not be Jewish, but is probably helped by being one of the UK’s finest character actors. Drawing upon people from his own childhood in that part of London, he brings a tempered anger to a character who feels left with no choice but to take a stand. Something that’s obviously rubbed off with him these last years as one of most prominent non-Jewish fighters against antisemitism, this time predominantly from direction of the far-left. And when it comes to authenticity, there’s certainly no such issue when it comes to Tracy-Ann Oberman. As the guiding matriarch of the The 62 Group, this is a role she was born to play. Why do you need method acting, when all Tracy-Ann has to do is channel herself, sinking her teeth into the racists with the same determination and tenacity she fights every day in a battle that has since progressed into the digital world.
It’s not all doom and gloom, with wry moments to be expected from a writer with a comedy background. Sixty years ago, a new Tesco’s was an incitement to antisemitism, a few months ago racists were calling to boycott Marks & Spencer. And of course whilst any Jewish mother would be terrified with a runaway daughter, you also don’t want a stain on the dining room table. Hopefully there’s more of that to come, as now the first episode has set everything up, we’re primed to join their struggle. Bring on the kickass Jews!
