Murdered for Being Different (2017)

Sick Product of a Sick System

Fantastic!

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

Have been using IMDb for years and have watched many a documentary- series or drama etc but felt compelled to write my first review!I remember the news coverage of this but being young I didn't take too much notice and interest. This program was particularly thoughtful in regards to pressures on youth to 'fit in' and on others ' to keep their mouths shut'.The highlight for me was the ending with the use of Placebos version of KATE Bush's 'Running up that hill'. Never really listened to the words before but they made complete sense and highlighted the entire story!Well done BBC

Bacup, Rossendale, Lancashire on 11 August 2007, and Sophie Lancaster and her boyfriend Robert Maltby were set upon by a pack of feral thugs - their crime was to be different, to dress differently from their attackers. The attack left both Sophie and Robert in comas, Sophie would never wake up, murdered for being different. This BBC film tells the story.Back in the dead part of 1970s Great Britain, I was a Punk Rocker, something that to many was akin to being the Devil's spawn. So much so a car swerved to try and hit me one day as I crossed the road, the ignorance and intolerance back then still manifests itself today, quite often with tragic and hateful consequence. Upon watching Murdered for Being Different, the impact of the overwhelming sadness is only rivalled by the revulsion at those responsible for Sophie's death. The film is a valid and highly worthy production, picking up on the burgeoning love between Sophie and Robert, and then taking us to that fateful early August 11th morning. We observe the immediate aftermath and subsequent investigation into the incident, the effects of such on family and a key witness to what had unfolded. The pic is guilty of cutting corners, we really should have had more on the attackers post the attack, on how they reacted in the run up to their arrest (media tells us they were unrepentant scum), while a tactful omission of Sophie's mother in the play is noted with respect but still leaves a hole.But ultimately complaints are churlish, for this makes its mark. It's very well produced, the performances very tight, with Abigail Lawrie as Sophie doing her proud and Reiss Jarvis superb as the conflicted key witness Michael Gorman. Soundtrack is pin sharp, right up to the finale which is played out to the haunting grace of Placebo covering Kate Bush's Running Up That Hill. A distressing viewing experience but one that all should be privy to, point made and hopefully a jolt to the system of any human being with the potential for hate crime in their black hearts. 9/10

A well portrayed summary of events that actually happened. A harrowing and emotional view of hate crime. Two young adults that have had their lives destroyed because (as the title alludes) they were simply different. I'm trying not to give to much away but as it is a true story (and I remember seeing this in the news in the UK) my thoughts are with the survivor, I hope that person is doing well. I was impressed at how well this made. After this, hopefully more people will think before doing. I recommend you watch this.

I was so impressed by the acting - especially the young actors and especially Reiss Jarvis playing Michael Gorman: he was a naturally brilliant actor and seemed to play the role effortlessly - every glance and shrug perfect. This is someone to watch. All the other young actors were excellent as well.The weaving of the storyline was very powerfully and creatively done. It wasn't patronising, but could have done with a bit more time to expand some of the storyline/viewpoints.It is not often that I watch a film about a topic as challenging as this and see a masterful combination of skills across the board.The directing/editing and writing were also so good.