Although there is still plenty of tabloid-led outage over minority sexualities and identities, it is still jarring for this film to pull us back to the "good old days" of the 1980's, where Thatcher led the country, Mary Whitehouse tutted over our viewing habits, and homosexuality was legal but not 'normal'. I remember those days even if I was reasonably young, although I do not remember this case as it would have been when I was far too young. The presentation of the film gets you into the time though. The facts of the case are presented through a vertically ratioed presentation of court papers, headlines, and newspaper cutting. Watching in a dark room, the effect was a bit jarring as the screen was mostly white, but it worked well - keeping it in the documentary style, but informing us how this was seen and spoken about - not just the overview of the case.
While the lurid headlines do this (mixed with other media), the narration is well judged. One of the men arrested talks very matter-of-factly about the case and the absurdity of it all. He doesn't yell or rant now that he has this space to do so, and the film is better for how ordinary and direct he is with his recollections and occasionally wry observations. The approach perhaps means the film is not as emotional as it could have easily been, but it is informative, interesting, and engaging for it.
Worth seeing, and much credit to Charlie Lyne for going back to a story that predates him, and doing it so well. I enjoyed his last film (Fish Story) and enjoyed how much meatier the content of this film was but yet his creative side is consistent.
