In French, a “disclaimer” is a warning. In other words, the precaution taken by a work of fiction to indicate that “any resemblance to real facts or persons who have existed is fortuitous”. However, in Disclaimerthe mini-series available on Apple TV+, The Perfect Strangerthe book that Catherine Ravenscroft, the heroine, receives, makes it clear that the similarities between plot and reality are no coincidence.
This documentary filmmaker, played by Cate Blanchett – as always excellent – sees a whole part of her hidden past resurface as the pages turn. Chapter after chapter, her whole life is turned upside down, as the revelations have repercussions on her professional world and, above all, her family.
A thirst for vengeance that knows no bounds
The best way to enjoy this thriller is to know as little as possible, and let yourself be caught up in the various interwoven levels of narration. The episodes alternate between sequences from the novel, flashbacks to the protagonists’ past and Catherine Ravencroft’s quest to find the book’s author, a certain Stephen Brigstocke. The latter, driven by a thirst for vengeance of seemingly limitless cruelty and perversity, is played by a staggering Kevin Klein.
The seventh and final episode of Disclaimer went live on Friday, with an ending that will have audiences reconsidering everything they’ve seen and thought they understood up to that point. Taken as a whole, the mini-series offers solid food for thought about the way we tell (our) stories, and about what we do and don’t believe without a second thought.
The return of Alfonso Cuarón
This mini-series, adapted from the novel Revealed by Renée Knight, marks the return of Alfonso Cuarón to the camera. The Oscar-winning Mexican director, whose credits include Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Sons of man and Gravityhad not filmed anything since the feature film Roma for Netflix in 2018. At Hollywood Reporterhe told Apple TV+ that he didn’t know “how to make television” and would approach the project “like a movie”.
Indeed, while this drama reserves its share of twists and revelations, it doesn’t try to adopt the codes of serial efficiency at all costs. Starting with the cliffhangers that are supposed to maintain suspense at the end of each episode. Disclaimer is to be watched as a film lasting almost six hours, letting yourself be carried away by its (false) languor. It’s well worth the effort. In a year rich in excellent series, from My little reindeer à Worship via Hippocrates, Disclaimer in turn ranks in the very top of the basket.