Some childlike things Bentley does in the film gets viewers sympathy to.Bentley has the mental age of an eleven year old,and Medak makes sure this is clear in the film.An example of Bentleys childlike nature is when he is with Christopher Craig by the train tracks;Craig pretends to jump infront of the train.Like a child would do Bentley covers his face.He looks like he really believed Craig tried to kill himself.Also when Bentley first met Craigs brother Niven Craig he put his hand out and said "pleased to meet ya".Again very childlike.
Bentley was very close to his sister Iris Bentley.She is always shown dressed in bright coloured clothes,colours like red.This may have been because the director was trying to show Iris Bentley was the ray of light in Bentleys life,she was the one who incouraged him and gave him the strength to go out.After he had stayed in the house for months after returning from approved school which he hated.
As a young boy,when Bentley started to get involved in juvenile crime,he was always the one to get caught,because he wasn't smart enough and quick enough to get away.Just like he got caught in the tool shop which was the reason for him going to approved school.
In the year 1951 Bentley met Christopher Craig.A genuine friendship grew between them which was why they were so loyal to eachother.Craig was Bentley's only real friend,he stopped talking and contacting his old friends after he came out of approved school so much so they thought he was dead.This shows approved school had a big effect on Bentley.It may have been why he was so nervous and shook while with Craig,because he didn't want to go back there.
On the roof top of Barlow & Parker warehouse,Medak gets viewers sympathy by showing Bentley trying to help the police several times.For example,Bentley told the detective Craig had a gun.He also went up to P.C Miles after he was shot.Slow motion is used at this point to emphasize the importance of what had just happened.Also that it is something that can not be turned back.An extreme close up on Bentleys face when he shouts the important words "Let him have it chris" shows the expression on his face which tells us how much he did not want any of the shooting and battleing to be happening.The way Bentley acts is like a child would when in trouble e.g to scared to run and to stand up to the 'adults' who he was in trouble with.The way he thinks 'my dad is going to kill me' straight away is what a child would think having been caught doing something they shouldn't.This gets viewers sympathy.
The trial shows alot of close ups and extreme close ups.The extreme close up on Bentleys face while he is being questioned gains alot of sympathy.They show the confusion in his head,how he cannot cope with the questioning.The way he keeps his head down with his eyes up(again childlike)as if he's to scared to look up,scared of all the people.The extreme close ups on Bentleys family shows how much they are hurting.It shows how much they love him and this gets sympathy as well.
When it is revealed that Bentley had been given the death penalty there is another extreme close up,on Christopher Craigs face.When he himself had been given a prison sentance he had a cocky smirk on his face,he didn't care,but when he heard Bentleys punishment it changed.You could see that now,he was sorry for everything that had happened and upset about Bentley.This proves there was a genuwine friendship.This gets sympathy because it doesn't only make Craig realise what was going to happen,and how serious it had got,it made the viewers realise as well.
After the trial Bentley has a number of visits from his mum,dad and Iris Bentley.These visits get viewers sympathy because they know whats to follow.The director again brings out how Derek Bentley had the mental age of an eleven year old child.The director shows Bentley saying things like "will it hurt?".Something a child would ask.
When Bentley is visited by his family there are always close ups of his face.This could be because this part of the film shows the most intensity of emotions in the character.It is the part where everybody knows Bentleys death is coming.Even though Bentley acts strong and cheerful,like he is not scared,you can see he is.This gets sympathy.The lighting for the prison visits is always quite bright whereas when Bentley is in prison without his family it is mostly dull.This could show seeing his family brings light to this time in Bentleys life,and when its dull,he's feeling low and it's a depressing part of his life.
The characters of Bentleys sister and mum always seem to say positive things like "we're gonna get you out of here Derek"even though they know theres almost no hope.
Peter Medak chooses to make the hanging scene very quick.He also chooses to show Bentleys family all in a group sticking together and hugging,trying to help eachother but all devestated.Just before Bentley is hanged how much he is really scared shows alot more,you can see the fear in his face when there are close ups on him.This gets sympathy because we also fear for him.
After Bentley is hanged there is a camera shot that goes to Bentleys house,inside the house,down the stairs ect,to Bentleys family.It gives the impression that Bentleys spirit has come back to say one last goodbye to his family.
Overall in the last few scenes,most of Bentleys time is spent saying goodbye to his family.This could get sympathy because some viewers could think of themselves being in that situation,and really feel for Derek and his family.
I think the Bentley case was a big miscarriage of justice that should never have got as far as Bentleys death.The death penalty should never be brought back,because if a person is proved innocent they cannot be brought back if they have already been killed.Whereas if they are only in prison,they can simply be let out.
I like the film because it's a real story which makes it more interesting,and the way Peter Medak brings out Bentleys childlike character and lets us see his innocence really gets viewers feeling sorry for Bentley.It really gets you imagining how Bentley and his family were feeling.These things make the film good to watch,and very moving.
