Each programme contains three films, featuring a different crime – murder, rape and prostitution – from three individual perspectives. What we hear are the raw words of real people, without comment or analysis. What we get is unique access into the inner workings and deep emotions of each person – whether the victim or perpetrator of the crime.
My Daughter – Lesley Sharp tells a mother’s heart-breaking story of how her 18-year old daughter died after being stabbed by her violent boyfriend. Nina, played by Anne Reid, murdered her husband when she discovered his infidelity after 38 years of marriage. Honour is performed by Mozaffar Shafeie who plays an Iranian man describing the death of his son, murdered in an ‘honour’ killing.
In Perfect Day, Emily Woof plays Julia, a young woman who was raped by a guest at her best friend’s wedding. In Binge Town Matthew Dunster plays Terry, a rapist, who confesses his story from prison. Sophie Okonedo is Jane in Bank Holiday, who met a man who stalked, entrapped and violently raped her.
Richard Wilson is an immaculately turned-out and highly successful businessman in his 60s in Old Man. He has been seeing high-class escorts and prostitutes for over 15 years with the full knowledge of his wife. In The Business, Lesley Sharp plays a high-class prostitute who used to earn up to £1000 per evening. The final film, Grace, is the tragic tale of a young Ugandan girl, played by Nikki Amuka-Bird, who escaped to the UK after seeing her parents murdered and ended up working as a prostitute.
A Century Films production for More4
3 x 50 minutes
DramatisationLila RawlingsBrian HilCast - MurderMy Daughter - Lesley SharpNina - Anne ReidHonour - Mozaffar ShafeieCast - RapePerfect Day - Emily WoofBinge Town - Matthew DunsterBank Holiday - Sophie OkenedoCast - ProstitutionThe Business - Lesley SharpAn Upmarket Man - Richard WilsonGrace - Nikki Amuka-BirdAssistant producersIain CunninghamElodie GornallDirectors of PhotographyRoger ChapmanLawrence GardnerChris Titus KingJustin EvansGraham SmithMichael TimneyLine producerJane NicholsonProducersKatie BailiffElodie GornallDirectorsBrian HillMartin McDonnellMusicSam HooperEditorWanda Gurzynska"Clearly sensing that urgent messages are not hitting home in conventional documentary films, Hill has stretched the form in bold and interesting ways."Financial Times
"The show forces you to listen to the words and in doing so attains a quiet but, ultimately, overwhelming power...Important and valuable television."The Observer
"All three performances are mesmerising; disturbing; eloquently acted. Each tale of grief, and of loss, and of regret, is heartbreaking; and each in its own heartbreaking way."The Times
"The stories are true, but are relayed by impressive actors...As an exploration of murder from the perspective of both victim and killer, it makes raw and painfully real viewing."Daily Telegraph