Based on real events from 1983; DC Peter Finch is awarded a medal for the courage he showed in arresting a dangerous criminal. Meanwhile transvestite David Martin is released once again from prison - he's provocative and aggressive and, when he's caught again during a burglary, he shoots one of the police officers, leading to a nation wide manhunt. Innocent filmmaker Steven Waldorf is subsequently shot as a suspect by Finch, provoking a national scandal that rocks the police force.
Direction
Early Greengrass shaky-cam chaos before it became his trademark.
Acting
Rupert Graves plays volatility like a live wire in a puddle.
Director
Paul Greengrass
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was Paul Greengrass's directorial debut, shot on a shoestring for ITV before he became the Bourne guy.
The real 1983 Waldorf shooting caused actual reforms to UK police firearms policy—this film helped reopen buried national shame.
GB
