CIFF2023: Victim + Q&A
The Chiswick connection: Actress Syliva Sims lived in Chiswick and the film features various Chiswick locations including Morton House on Chiswick Mall.
Nominated for Venice Film Festivals’ Golden Lion and 2 BAFTAs.
A closeted lawyer risks his career to bring a blackmailer to justice.
The 1961 British suspenseful drama is groundbreaking for its time as one of the earliest movies to openly address homosexuality and the legal and social challenges faced by gay men in 1960s England.
Dirk Bogarde plays Melville Farr, a successful and respected barrister (lawyer) who becomes embroiled in a dangerous situation when he learns that a young man he had a relationship with is being blackmailed due to his sexual orientation. A tense and emotionally charged film that challenges the prevailing attitudes of its time towards homosexuality. It raises important questions about justice, ethics, and personal integrity while portraying the psychological toll of living in fear of exposure and societal rejection. Bogarde’s performance is considered pivotal in his career and in the broader context of cinema’s evolving treatment of LGBTQ+ themes. A panel of star guests will explore the context of the film’s production and release and it’s poignancy for the LGBTQ+ community.
Nominated for Venice Film Festivals’ Golden Lion and 2 BAFTAs.
A closeted lawyer risks his career to bring a blackmailer to justice.
The 1961 British suspenseful drama is groundbreaking for its time as one of the earliest movies to openly address homosexuality and the legal and social challenges faced by gay men in 1960s England.
Dirk Bogarde plays Melville Farr, a successful and respected barrister (lawyer) who becomes embroiled in a dangerous situation when he learns that a young man he had a relationship with is being blackmailed due to his sexual orientation. A tense and emotionally charged film that challenges the prevailing attitudes of its time towards homosexuality. It raises important questions about justice, ethics, and personal integrity while portraying the psychological toll of living in fear of exposure and societal rejection. Bogarde’s performance is considered pivotal in his career and in the broader context of cinema’s evolving treatment of LGBTQ+ themes. A panel of star guests will explore the context of the film’s production and release and it’s poignancy for the LGBTQ+ community.
Cast
Dirk Bogarde • Sylvia Sims
Director
Basil Dearden
Running Time
100 minutes