Anybody's Nightmare

The TV-movie Anybody´s Nightmare (2001) is very interesting and is based on a real situation that happened in 1992 in England, to Sheila Bowler, a piano teacher. I had never imagined that a situation like the one she experienced could be turned into a nightmare that started in the following days and continued throughout the following years. The title of the movie, however, kind of prepares us to watch a quite trivial event that caused a substantial impact on the people involved, particularly to Sheila´s aunt and to herself. This is a very good movie that makes you think and be alert about possible consequences trigged by a trivial, common and nonintentional thing you do, which could push you into a long period of despair.

Would love to know if anyone knows where to find this movie to watch. I saw a 14 minute preview on YouTube and that's it... Thanks if you can help! (In Boston, MA) I am giving the first 14 minutes a resounding 8 stars!!

Patricia Routledge stars in this drama based on the real-life conviction and jailing of Sheila Bowler. Bowler was imprisoned for 4 years for the murder of her husband's aunt despite there not being a shard of evidence against her. She was finally able to overturn (quash) her conviction thanks to her children and a scrappy neighbor.

Harrowing story has Bowler taking the old lady out of the nursing home and driving her back to Rye for a visit. Along the way, she gets a flat tire and leaves the old lady in the car while she goes for help. When she gets back, the old lady is gone.

When she's found in the river a few days later. the local cops build a case against Bowler since the old lady was supposedly an invalid and could not have wandered off. Despite having no hard evidence of any kind, Bowler is eventually convicted by circumstantial evidence and supposition. She also seems to have had a totally inept legal defense.

Her children are totally ignorant of the legal system and only start to fight back when a neighbor pitches in and badgers the kids and the lawyers into seeking appeals.

Eventually they discover just how inept the legal defense was and start chipping away. The British legal system, however, fights them every inch of the way.

Routledge is superb as Bowler, the middle class music teacher who endures the harsh prison life for 4 years. Also notable is Nicola Redmond as Angela Devlin, on whose book this film is based.

After dropping her daughter off at the train station, Sheila Bowler sets off to pick up her late husband's aunt, Florrie Jackson. When the car breaks down, Sheila goes in search of help; when she returns, Flo is gone. The following day, she is found, Sheila is charged with her murder, and sentenced to life.

What an incredible dramatisation this is! I recently watched a documentary about Sheila's story; it remains one of Britain's biggest travesties. The original case for the defence was so weak that many avenues simply weren't explored.

As for this dramatisation, it's superb! The story is first-rate; it's a shocking storyline that is backed up by a superb central performance from Dame Patricia Routledge. Your heart sinks when you see Routledge in prison; it does make you question certain women being in prison.

The supporting cast are all very good; I particularly liked Nicola Redmond and Georgina Sutcliffe's performances, both very good. Twenty-five years on, still brilliant.

10/10.

So much for British justice, I didn't know it was a true story, just wanted to see it as I like Patricia routledge. I kept missing on tv, and only got to see it this week on true movies. I was astounded, Patricia should have been nominated for an award for this. It was so gripping, her performance was superb. So very moving at the end.