Transatlantic Review: Gillian Jacobs stars in addictive drama Casablanca

dirty: It’s 1940 in Marseille, and as America does its best to stay neutral as Germany marches across Europe, there are Americans (plus others) trying to make a little difference in the French port city.

Specifically, there’s trust fund kid Mary Jane (Gillian Jacobs), who uses her family’s wealth to help fund journalist Varian Fry’s (Cory Michael Smith) Emergency Rescue Committee, a group dedicated to getting refugees out of Europe, especially artists, thinkers, and anyone else who has Hitler is a certain beef. It is a dangerous act, and one might say treason, but that does not prevent those who try to escape and try to stay safe from seizing the happiness they can…

The Germans denied miracles: Given its location in time and space, not to mention the frequent discussion of visas and papers, across the Atlantic Puts instant comparisons to White House, one of the greatest films ever made — and while the new Netflix drama shouldn’t be anointed with this level of sacredness at this point, the comparisons are favorable. What the two projects have in common, beyond the obvious, is the wit and wit to remember that even as humanity lives through very difficult times, we remain human beings, with our own emotions, fears, and problems.

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The seven-episode limited series was co-created with Anna Winger, who may be most familiar to American audiences as the creator of the Emmy Award-winning Netflix limited series. Unconventionalbut also beyond critical acclaim Deutschland series. (This is important information for at least three people I know personally: Hi Jay, Bronwyn, and Abby!) Germany 83/86/89 It took a similarly miniature look at life during historical moments (in that series’ case, the Cold War and the Iron Curtain), an approach that goes a long way toward making the drama feel relevant and relevant.

part of what makes across the Atlantic So compelling is that while the show isn’t afraid to go as dark as its circumstances require, it’s also not afraid to embrace the occasional moment of flight, from hilarious misunderstandings to romantic dramas and even an unexpected musical number. It’s instantly easy to get sucked into this narrative—the bad guys are straightforward and the good guys virtuous, even when circumstances push them towards some tough decisions—and thanks to the breathing room provided by the seven-episode series, personal relationships are allowed to deepen as tensions simmer.

Just another American flop: In terms of production across the Atlantic It leans a little into digital landscapes at times, but otherwise details are well rendered, and the cinematography isn’t afraid of color. Particularly striking is the dilapidated French villa chosen as the headquarters of the ERC, sometimes transformed by artists in hiding there.

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Transatlantic (Netflix)