The Murder of Stephen Lawrence

I saw this on PBS Masterpiece Theater last night, and it is riveting. Although it is performed by professional actors, it has the look and feel of a documentary. This is largely due to the use of a hand held camera. It tells the story of a young black man in England who was murdered by a group of white hooligans. This was followed by a bungles police investigation, which led to the obviously guilty suspects going free. To this day, no one has been convicted in the crime. This docudrama shows that the USA does not have a monopoly on racism or on police incompetence.

Watching this superb movie is an almost painful experience inasmuch that it's incredible realism completely immerses one in the terrible experience that Stephen's family suffered; and continues to suffer. For much of the movie it was almost impossible to believe that the participants were in fact actors, and not the real people on whom this brutal miscarriage of justice was perpetrated.

STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Night * Monday Morning

In April 1993, Stephen Lawrence (Leon Black), an eighteen year old black teenager , was murdered on the streets of London while trying to find a way home with his friend Duwayne (Joseph Kpobie.) The random attack seemed to come out of nowhere, but the motivation evidently had racist intent, as racial slurs were yelled during the killing. What followed plunged his parents Neville (Hugh Quarshie) and Doreen (Marianne Jean-Baptiste), as well as his extended family, including brother Stuart (a young Ashley Walters), into a desperate battle for justice, as police corruption and incompetence, as well as threats from the accused, threaten to stand in the way.

I'm not massively into the whole BLM thing sweeping around the world at the moment, but I'd have to be a total idiot to not think racism exists at all, or that it can't have terrible, devastating consequences, such as this tragic true life murder story. All murders are tragic, but when the shock and grief of the bereaved are compounded further by the knowledge their loved one was killed simply for who he was must add that extra pain for them. This twenty one year old TV film, shown after an ITV panel show debating how racist Britain may still be, still has power, even after some semblance of justice has occurred since, with two of the suspects convicted and jailed.

Before he became such an established name with films such as United 93, Captain Phillips and July 22, director Paul Greengrass here shows an early example of his distinctive minimalist, close up style, allowing events to unfold in a natural, authentic manner, that is eerily realistic, sparing us no horror as we close in on Stephen's bloodied, suited body as the medics operate, and the horror trip from the parents' home to the A/E ward. He also showcases some early talent, in the shape of the aforementioned Walters, as well as the likes of Neil Maskell.

Even some years on, and with events slightly more just, this is still an eye catching, impressive docudrama, that highlights a case that will forever leave a mark on the national consciousness, and lead to radical change. ****