Black Books
2000
Original language: English
- comedy
The story
Black Books centres around the foul tempered and wildly eccentric bookshop owner Bernard Black. Bernard’s devotion to the twin pleasures of drunkenness and wilful antagonism deepens and enriches both his life and that of Manny, his assistant. Bearded, sweet and good, Manny is everything that Bernard isn’t and is punished by Bernard relentlessly just for the crime of existing. They depend on each other for meaning as Fran, their oldest friend, depends on them for distraction. Black Books is a haven of books, wine and conversation, the only threat to the group’s peace and prosperity is their own limitless stupidity.
What it’s like
Cluttered shelves, mismatched furniture and a sagging sofa fill a cramped London bookshop, lit by weak lamps and the glow of a wine bottle that is rarely far from reach. The camera stays close and sitcom-plain, lingering on deadpan faces and dry stares in tight interiors, while the grey, drizzly streets outside feel like a world the characters are happy to ignore. Dialogue is quick and cutting, with long, rambling tangents and sudden bursts of surreal absurdity, and the pacing often hangs on a pause before the next bit of spite. Its mood is warm, sardonic and scruffy, a comfortable grump with a soft heart underneath. Insults and bitter put-downs are constant, drunkenness is treated as a daily habit, and there is some innuendo, but there is no real violence and nothing graphic; the discomfort is verbal rather than physical. It suits a rainy evening with a drink, a late-night laugh alone, or a rewatch when you want sharp misanthropy without any real danger. It is made for people who enjoy grumpy, chaotic characters who slowly reveal affection beneath all the bickering.
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