A wonderful BBC Drama based on tragic true events. It conveys the problems of our modern society, whilst presenting the idea of fighting for who you are; however, I do believe what would make this even better is to show some of the perspectives from Sophie's parents, but presides from that, this is definitely worth a watch.
13 Reviews
Sophie Lancaster - Lest Anyone Forgets.
hitchcockthelegend17 October 2017
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
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 timeless hate-crime story
Gelaos21 September 2022
Hate crimes unfortunately always have been, are and will be. This docu-drama goes straight to the point - it depicts one painfully tragic case without any unnecessary pathos or moralising. Actors were great, especially the main couple and that boy. And to those sadistic - and thankfully properly punished - teenage @!#$%& (I don't know a word that expresses the level of contempt and disgust I feel for them), let me quote the judge's final words: 'At least wild animals, when they hunt in packs, have a legitimate reason for so doing, to obtain food. You have none and your behaviour on that night degrades humanity itself".
As a nearby resident to the park where this took place, this is wonderfully done
tizzydizzyrawlinson26 June 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Oh boy, as it really been 10 years already? 10 years since I, like many others were scared to walk on the park outside our home after this? Before our community was divided, before the town suffered a reputation it didn't deserve because of the act of these animals? 10 whole years, really?
Before these 'people' attacked Sophie they had attacked a female goth friend of ours in the same location and we had to call the Police. They ran away and continued to beat up people and get convictions for it.
Then the events of this sad night happened despite residents close to the park complaining about anti social behavior at the park. There is much more to the mobs mentality than portrayed here, but never the less this was a beautiful drama of a very real, very horrific event.
The use of real locations throughout definitely helps, the acting and props are of movie quality. The story is researched and dealt with sensitivity. It goes graphic towards the end, but this is fake, the events of the night weren't. So in my view, if you can't handle a fake drama based on a real event, then you can't handle reality, because this really happened, never forget that.
The film is good at portraying feelings and views of all those affected in the attack, including the gang member who phoned the ambulance. The pressure he was under must have been insane and we get the feeling of hopelessness here. The story is well set up to bring us to a conclusion and ends on a bitter sweet note. We have to be who we are, in a world of constantly rising hate for those who dare to be different.
I will say that you have to watch this movie, but as a local Bacup lad struggling with my own identity at the time this event happened basically on my doorstep, I may be a bit bias.
Sure you could go through your life without knowing this story, but the next time you hate on someone for the way they are, just remember, this is the extreme tail end of that. In a society full of division we hate each other instead of what is making us feel the way we do.
Pros- Very well shot visuals and audio. Very well researched to real events. Gets the points of the narrative across clearly. Uses real locations to give a sense of reality. Uses real names and nicknames of the attackers. Very good acting and pacing.
Cons- Ending feels too rushed after showing the attack- I would have liked an extra 30 mins seeing robs gradual build up to being himself rather than just cutting to it, the guy was mashed.
Some aspects of the story were overlooked- like the attackers pulling out sophies braids for example. Another example of this is the attackers hiding/washing clothes and what they did in the 7 days after the attack while they were still at large, including washing blood off their hands at the local petrol station. This was, however alluded too. It shows nothing of them bragging about what they did.
Some location interiors clash with the Bacup exterior, I get that interior shots were probably done elsewhere but a city like backdrop in some windows ruined the immersion.
Again it doesn't mention the rap video the gang did or look at the gang aspect of the murders, nor mention what their previous convictions actually were. (Stomping a guy, stomping a girl. I.E Sophie wasn't the first attack from the group.)
All in all I give it 7/10.
I'd like to see an extended version looking at the aspects above, but I guess those who want to look into the story will find them. It does get bleak and graphic, but the events of that night were bleak and graphic. It's nothing more than horror film visuals however, but it could trigger people who remember the event, but it should always be remembered.
Before these 'people' attacked Sophie they had attacked a female goth friend of ours in the same location and we had to call the Police. They ran away and continued to beat up people and get convictions for it.
Then the events of this sad night happened despite residents close to the park complaining about anti social behavior at the park. There is much more to the mobs mentality than portrayed here, but never the less this was a beautiful drama of a very real, very horrific event.
The use of real locations throughout definitely helps, the acting and props are of movie quality. The story is researched and dealt with sensitivity. It goes graphic towards the end, but this is fake, the events of the night weren't. So in my view, if you can't handle a fake drama based on a real event, then you can't handle reality, because this really happened, never forget that.
The film is good at portraying feelings and views of all those affected in the attack, including the gang member who phoned the ambulance. The pressure he was under must have been insane and we get the feeling of hopelessness here. The story is well set up to bring us to a conclusion and ends on a bitter sweet note. We have to be who we are, in a world of constantly rising hate for those who dare to be different.
I will say that you have to watch this movie, but as a local Bacup lad struggling with my own identity at the time this event happened basically on my doorstep, I may be a bit bias.
Sure you could go through your life without knowing this story, but the next time you hate on someone for the way they are, just remember, this is the extreme tail end of that. In a society full of division we hate each other instead of what is making us feel the way we do.
Pros- Very well shot visuals and audio. Very well researched to real events. Gets the points of the narrative across clearly. Uses real locations to give a sense of reality. Uses real names and nicknames of the attackers. Very good acting and pacing.
Cons- Ending feels too rushed after showing the attack- I would have liked an extra 30 mins seeing robs gradual build up to being himself rather than just cutting to it, the guy was mashed.
Some aspects of the story were overlooked- like the attackers pulling out sophies braids for example. Another example of this is the attackers hiding/washing clothes and what they did in the 7 days after the attack while they were still at large, including washing blood off their hands at the local petrol station. This was, however alluded too. It shows nothing of them bragging about what they did.
Some location interiors clash with the Bacup exterior, I get that interior shots were probably done elsewhere but a city like backdrop in some windows ruined the immersion.
Again it doesn't mention the rap video the gang did or look at the gang aspect of the murders, nor mention what their previous convictions actually were. (Stomping a guy, stomping a girl. I.E Sophie wasn't the first attack from the group.)
All in all I give it 7/10.
I'd like to see an extended version looking at the aspects above, but I guess those who want to look into the story will find them. It does get bleak and graphic, but the events of that night were bleak and graphic. It's nothing more than horror film visuals however, but it could trigger people who remember the event, but it should always be remembered.
Excellent acting, writing, editing
simonwarnerbore20 June 2017
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.
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.
The savage murder of a beautiful life
Avwillfan8912 September 2017
I first heard about the murder of Sophie Lancaster on the news - and remembered being horrified by the very notion that someone could be brutally murdered simply for the way they dressed.
The present time of the film, after the attack, is layered with minuscule to longer flashbacks of both Sophie and Rob's life together and the night of the attack. Sophie was well into Harry Potter and Rob was good at painting, using Sophie's back to portray wings.
The use of the songs throughout the film were brilliantly segued into the score - and the last one heard was a cover of Running up that Hill, by Kate Bush.
"If only I could make a deal God, then I'd get him to swap our places."
It's a really heartbreaking, well acted, tragic story of a beautiful life being so cruelly and senselessly cut short.
The present time of the film, after the attack, is layered with minuscule to longer flashbacks of both Sophie and Rob's life together and the night of the attack. Sophie was well into Harry Potter and Rob was good at painting, using Sophie's back to portray wings.
The use of the songs throughout the film were brilliantly segued into the score - and the last one heard was a cover of Running up that Hill, by Kate Bush.
"If only I could make a deal God, then I'd get him to swap our places."
It's a really heartbreaking, well acted, tragic story of a beautiful life being so cruelly and senselessly cut short.
A Solid BBC Docudrama
freemantle_uk21 March 2020
Murdered for Being Different was a docudrama about the death of Sophie Lancaster, a young woman who was beaten to death just for being a goth. The docudrama focused on both the relationship between Sophie (Abigail Lawrie) and her boyfriend, Rob (Nico Mirallegro) and the guilt the one witness, Michael (Reiss Jarvis) suffered.
Murdered for Being Different was directed by Paul Andrew Williams, the director of the excellent indie film London to Brighton and gave the Murdered for Being Different an almost documentary look due to the use of handheld cameras. It was well-acted as a project like this needed to be and the storyline about Michael and the criminal investigation was the one that held my interest the most since he had to choose between his friends and doing the right thing.
Murdered for Being Different was directed by Paul Andrew Williams, the director of the excellent indie film London to Brighton and gave the Murdered for Being Different an almost documentary look due to the use of handheld cameras. It was well-acted as a project like this needed to be and the storyline about Michael and the criminal investigation was the one that held my interest the most since he had to choose between his friends and doing the right thing.
Stark view into Youth
bowie_harrison16 May 2018
Warning: Spoilers
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
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
Love Cats
Prismark1031 July 2017
Murdered for being Different is a true life drama about the killing of young Sophie Lancaster (Abigail Lawrie) who was just 20 years old.
Sophie and her boyfriend Robert Maltby (Nico Mirallegro) were attacked in 2007 in their home town of Bacup in Lancashire by a gang of young thugs. Their crime was that they dressed up as Goths and this alternative lifestyle provoked them.
Sophie was kicked to death as she tried to defend Robert who himself suffered serious injuries.
As Robert's mother tries to comprehend what has happened to her son and tell him that Sophie is not going to recover from her injuries the police investigate and try to coax Michael Gorman a witness to the attack to tell them who the culprits were.
The attack is incomprehensible, we are used to seeing people being randomly picked on for being coloured or gay but these are people who just liked wearing dark clothing and make up. It is not even Goths are new, I knew several when I was a teenager and that was 3 decades ago. The only radio station you get to hear The Cure these days is a golden oldies one.
It is a harrowing drama but despite that it really had little that was new to offer. It was well acted but it did trod a predictable path. The police wants the witness to talk as they put the pieces together, the cowardly thugs threaten him with reprisals.
Sophie and her boyfriend Robert Maltby (Nico Mirallegro) were attacked in 2007 in their home town of Bacup in Lancashire by a gang of young thugs. Their crime was that they dressed up as Goths and this alternative lifestyle provoked them.
Sophie was kicked to death as she tried to defend Robert who himself suffered serious injuries.
As Robert's mother tries to comprehend what has happened to her son and tell him that Sophie is not going to recover from her injuries the police investigate and try to coax Michael Gorman a witness to the attack to tell them who the culprits were.
The attack is incomprehensible, we are used to seeing people being randomly picked on for being coloured or gay but these are people who just liked wearing dark clothing and make up. It is not even Goths are new, I knew several when I was a teenager and that was 3 decades ago. The only radio station you get to hear The Cure these days is a golden oldies one.
It is a harrowing drama but despite that it really had little that was new to offer. It was well acted but it did trod a predictable path. The police wants the witness to talk as they put the pieces together, the cowardly thugs threaten him with reprisals.
Recommend everyone watch this
quahog-61-95591615 July 2017
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.
Very compelling viewing
klhughes9913 October 2019
That's a very good movie
butskhrikidze23 April 2018
Watch it
paulONeil685 August 2023
Warning: Spoilers
This is a great movie and just shows the whole world what devastation unnecessary violence can cause.
This is a true story of a couple bullied and violently attacked for being different and happy and all because the rotten filth cannot instill joy into their own lives through petty hate and jealousy. The movie is casted really well and runs at a steady pace with flashbacks in the now moments. It delivers a message that there is no justification for this kind of brutality and that its more than time people stopped with jealous indifference because others are happy and comfortable in thier own skin.
Watch this movie its very good.
This is a true story of a couple bullied and violently attacked for being different and happy and all because the rotten filth cannot instill joy into their own lives through petty hate and jealousy. The movie is casted really well and runs at a steady pace with flashbacks in the now moments. It delivers a message that there is no justification for this kind of brutality and that its more than time people stopped with jealous indifference because others are happy and comfortable in thier own skin.
Watch this movie its very good.
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