Poliakoff makes big screen return

Stephen Poliakoff's previous films include Close My Eyes and Century

Shooting has begun on award-winning dramatist Stephen Poliakoff's first feature film for 10 years.

Set in the lead-up to World War II, the BBC-funded 1939 stars Julie Christie, Bill Nighy and David Tennant.

Atonement's Romola Garai plays the lead role of Anne, a young actress who stumbles upon a deadly conspiracy.

Poliakoff, known for such TV dramas as The Lost Prince, said he was "very excited to be making a film about a period that has always fascinated me".

He said the film, which he will write and direct, will focus on "the extraordinary machinations that went on in British society on the eve of war".

Serials

Jeremy Northam, Charlie Cox and Christopher Lee will also appear in the film, which is a Talkback Thames production.

Poliakoff's last films written directly for the cinema were 1997 comedy Feast of Love and 1998's The Tribe.

Since then, he has concentrated on television, writing and directing such acclaimed serials as Shooting the Past and Perfect Strangers.

His recent works include the single dramas Joe's Palace with Sir Michael Gambon and Capturing Mary with Dame Maggie Smith.