Against the Law

2017

1 hr. 25 min.

Biography

Drama

List

100%

9 Reviews

Tomatometer

75%

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Audience Score

When Peter Wildeblood fell in love with Edward McNally in 1952, homosexuality was a crime in Britain. Their love affair would have devastating consequences for each of them, leading to a watershed moment for British equality.

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Kevin L

Once again, Daniel Mays is remarkable in this exceptional film by director Fegus O'Brien and writer Brian Fillis, based on the original writings of Peter Wildeblood. Mays truly seems to be channeling a man who has lived this story; at least to the point that one can summon such a performance based on the remembrances of Wildeblood and others he met/knew. Later I'll look up some other Mays films I haven't caught yet. This is a film radiating with vibrant, deep colors that are muted to light blues, whites, and more austere, sterling shades during the prison scenes. Together with some really fine score pieces helps add to the sense of the time, place and mood of each scene. Then there's the words of men who actually lived through these oppressive times in Britain and were largely peers of Wildeblood. This bit of a doc within the narrative adds immediate authenticity to the content of O'Brien's film while also putting faces to some of the thousands of fellow victims rather than just names on paper. These segments took me from sad to baffled. from angry to laughing. The last bit where they give examples of the litany of terms for gay men is not only largely humorous in its tone but also works to take power from the mentality and actions of those who would enact and enforce such cruel abd destructive policies. Also giving fine performances are Mark Edle-Hunt and Richard Gadd. 4 stars

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/03/23

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Fergus O'Brien

Director

Daniel Mays

Peter Wildeblood

Richard Gadd

Eddie Mcnally

Paul Keating

Fanny

Mark Edel-Hunt

Edward Montagu

Mark Gatiss

Dr. Landers

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Jasper Rees

Daily Telegraph (UK)

The script was strong on the factions within the gay community, and the erasure of class divisions among homosexuals. But nothing was quite as moving as the interviews.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 12, 2018

Full Review

Rachel Cooke

New Statesman

Here was all of the wit and compassion you find in Wildeblood's prose, combined with emotions I'd hitherto only been able rather half-heartedly to imagine: bewilderment, fear, agonising pain.

Sep 12, 2018

Full Review

Julia Raeside

Guardian

Mays is unobtrusively brilliant as Wildeblood.

Sep 12, 2018

Full Review

Catherine Drake

Den of Geek

Against The Law is neither just drama nor just documentary, it's something far more powerful for having elements of both.

Jan 18, 2019

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David Benedict

The Arts Desk

The triumph of Against the Law is to have balanced drama and matchless personal testimonial with such grace.

Rated: 5/5

Oct 3, 2018

Full Review

Rich Cline

Shadows on the Wall

An inventive blending of period drama and talking-head documentary, this pointed film is beautifully edited to make the most of both strands.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 3, 2018

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Synopsis

When Peter Wildeblood fell in love with Edward McNally in 1952, homosexuality was a crime in Britain. Their love affair would have devastating consequences for each of them, leading to a watershed moment for British equality.

Director: Fergus O'Brien
Executive Producer: Aysha Rafaele
Screenwriter: Brian Fillis
Production Co: BBC Studios
Genre: Biography, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 16, 2019