How Peter Medak Gains the Viewer's Sympathy for Derek Bentley

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How Peter Medak Gains the Viewer's Sympathy for Derek Bentley

Peter Medak made this film to show what he thinks happened in the

case. He also made this film to show what happens from Derek

Bentley’s point of view.

The film that Medak made is biased in favour of Derek Bentley. Medak

made the film in such a way that the viewer feels sympathy for

Bentley.

The film is about Derek Bentley who is mentally challenged. He meets

a gangster called Chris Craig. They both try to break into the

warehouse, but they are caught by the police. Derek & Chris are both

found guilty. Derek Bentley the older of the two was hanged and Chris

was sent to prison.

The film that Medak had created started with Derek under a pile of

rubble and people taking the rubble off him. The camera zooms into

his face and the frame is filled with his face. The scene where Derek

is in the approved school is very effective at gaining the viewer’s

sympathy. The lighting is low key which makes the mood of the

approved school sombre. The camera zooms into Derek sitting with his

head down, which shows that he is sad and the school is very scary.

While Derek is sitting outside headmaster’s office, he can hear his

father and the headmaster talking about him which in turn makes the

viewers feel in sympathy for him. When Derek and his father leave the

school, Derek is in front of the big door which makes him look small

and insignificant.

Derek and his sister Iris have a very close relationship. They both

dance together and talk together. Iris is not only sister to Derek

but acts as a mother to Derek as well. This shows us that Derek is a

calm and loving person and does not look like a law offender.

Derek loves the song “Wheel of Fortune”. We see Derek to the music

shop to buy the song.

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