A Song For Jenny

 I watched "A Song For Jenny" tonight, based on the story of Julie Nicolson, whose daughter Jenny was killed in the 7/7 bombings. It was exceedingly difficult viewing, but I felt it important to watch.The scene where Julie demands that her family liason officers permit her to see Jenny's body was particularly heart wrenching. Similarly affecting is her boyfriend James' realisation that problems on the London Underground that day forced Jenny to change her route and took her into the path of Mohammad Sidique Khan (we see one solitary glimpse of Khan and the rucksack) on the Circle Line near Edgware Road. "That's why Jenny died? A fault on the Piccadilly Line?".

Emily Watson is outstanding as Julie, providing a nuanced performance that takes us through her grief and her anger as the matriach of a tight knit family torn apart. I am sure that the 80 minute running time barely scratches the surface of the burden that the Nicholson family will carry for the rest of their lives. But from this overwhelmingly sad event comes an act of defiance: "I won't let hate destroy the love I have for her".

I can only echo the words of the taxi driver who drives Julie from Paddington to Reading for free: "Don't let them win".

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