‘Tomorrow’ is an important story assembled from a cringe-inducing playbook of clichés and superficial writing that announces itself anew in every scene as a wasted opportunity to put a disabled war veteran’s story on the map. Its producers have been working with a number of charities to raise awareness around PTSD and other issues affecting veterans, but however worthy the cause off-screen, believable characters and layered storytelling are in short supply on it.
What we have is a passion project from co-writer and star Sebastian Street who plays Tesla, an Afghanistan vet who lost the use of his legs in an IED explosion and suffers traumatic flashbacks as he tries to build a life in London. We meet him in a squalid apartment, passed out after a drinking bender, having been left by his fiancée. It’s a miserable setup soon leavened by the fortunate arrival of a best friend, an ambitious girlfriend and a new career path. His traumas are milked for sentimental climaxes, rather than integrated into his unbelievably blessed character arc.
The most credible element of the film comes from the actors who telegraph a depth of character not found on paper – especially true of Sophie Kennedy Clark, who quietly vibrates with anguish as Telsa’s girlfriend’s housemate Lee-Anne. However, all attempts to bring nuance are rowing upstream in a film world where a pressurised scene is soundtracked by David Bowie and Queen’s ‘Under Pressure’. This is the directorial debut of Martha Pinson, long-time script supervisor of Martin Scorsese. The whole film is edited together at trailer-montage speed, indicating a desire to return asap to Marty’s side.