BASED ON THE JOHN HOPKINS PLAY THIS STORY OF YOURS, LUMET’S THIRD BRITISH FILM—FOLLOWING THE HILL (1965) AND THE DEADLY AFFAIR (1966)—IS A SOMBRE, INTRIGUING STUDY OF POLICE BRUTALITY.
A tough Inspector (Sean Connery) has seen too much and for too long: he is becoming contaminated by the criminal squalor he habitually investigates. He finally cracks when confronted by a snivelling suspected child molester (Ian Bannen), who becomes a nightmare projection of the Inspector’s own barely suppressed heart of darkness. Lumet’s direction might give the film the air of a Z-Cars episode being directed by Ingmar Bergman, but he is backed up to the hilt by his actors, who are sensational. As the accuser looking uncomfortably into his own soul, Connery stretches himself as never before (or after) on screen; as the accused who will unnervingly but fatally turn the tables on his interrogator, Ian Bannen is at his flesh-creeping finest.Group tickets are available directly from the IFI Box Office on (01) 679 3477
5 Lumet films for €30
7 Lumet films for €40 (Full Pass)
Membership is required