Outside the Court

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MOCAŠ

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Just seen this extraordinary programme, which forms part of BBC4's "Justice" season.

BBC iPlayer - Outside the Court

The premise is a simple one: a series of vox pops taken outside Highbury Magistrate's Court with the programme maker, Marc Isaacs, asking those attending the court: why are you here?

Over the course of three months he managed to find an assortment of, erm, characters, each of whom has a hidden dimension to reveal: amongst others, there was the middle-aged cocaine user whose mumsy-looking wife said she'd also tried it once but preferred a nice drink; the former professional footballer who was there to support his drug-using son; and the ticket tout who protested his innocence while revealing he'd previously done time for 'robbery and tying-up'. Of course, there would have been many more who were not willing to speak or be filmed.

Most poignant of all was the story of Michel, an expat former tool-maker with France Energie nuclear research, who had lost his job when the operation was moved to the Far East; he had subsequently turned to drink and seen his life fall apart. Behind his ramshackle appearance there was a distinct Gallic charm and an intelligent mind, yet he considered himself worthless. As his penutlimate appearance on the programme came to a close, he became rather coy and said of the fact that he was being filmed: "I feel important now... but I am not important. I am a failure." No mere self-pity this, but the words of a man whose spirit had been broken.

The programme somehow put me in mind of the story behind Gavin Bryars' piece for tramp and orchestra, Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet, which has its origins in a 1970s documentary about the lives of people living rough near Waterloo station.

Michel's story in particular was also reminiscent of a Channel 4 Cutting Edge documentary following the life of Brian Davis, the Cambridge-educated former editor of the advertising industry magazine Campaign, who had been reuced to homelessness after succumbing to alcoholism and depression, and at the time of filming was relying on favours from family and friends to provide a roof over his head (although it seemed no-one was prepared to tolerate him for long). Towards the end of the programme it seemed Brian had turned a corner and was determined to put his life in order, when a black-screen caption revealed that he had fallen to his death from a hotel window. A tragic end to a life that had once shown such promise.
 
Perhaps an appropriate song, written about a homeless Glaswegian man.

[YOUTUBE]MVBjgCFNr00[/YOUTUBE]

Sad song.
 
I saw it last night, and really really felt for Michel.
Clearly a very troubled man - such a shame.

I also found the lady shoplifter fascinating, and actually quite liked her (but not her crimes).

Edit: I also realised as I watched it that it was one of those programmes (like Cathy come home) which I would remember for the rest of my life.
Can't say that about the mass of drivel we see these days.
 
"Behind his ramshackle appearance there was a distinct Gallic charm and an intelligent mind"

How true
 
Perhaps an appropriate song, written about a homeless Glaswegian man.

Sad song.

Ah, a favourite of mine, although I was only familiar with Marc Almond's version. Thanks for that.
 
Ah, a favourite of mine, although I was only familiar with Marc Almond's version. Thanks for that.
It's a pleasure Sir. I've always liked the song myself but only discovered the background story last year. Marc Almond's version is very well done too.

EDIT:
Oh dear, the version I've posted is truncated somewhat but if you search on youtube you should find the full length version.
 
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Edit: I also realised as I watched it that it was one of those programmes (like Cathy come home) which I would remember for the rest of my life.
Can't say that about the mass of drivel we see these days.

Indeed. Can't believe Auntie is considering axing BBC4, while the drivel-fest that is BBC3 will be protected as it's providing yoof programming. :rolleyes:

I felt the same way about the Cutting Edge documentary I mentioned in the OP, although in that case the feeling was far more intense as the whole programme was dedicated to the one man. It was incredibly engaging, as you witnessed the mood swings that a manic-depressive is prone to: on his good days you could almost believe that he would pull off his grandiose plans and found yourself willing him along, which made the stark announcement of his death a hammer-blow. I have searched in vain for this programme on 4oD and YouTube. Perhaps an email to Channel 4 is in order.
 
The Days of Purley Spencer by David McWilliams, much better than Marc Almonds methinks.

Does anyone else feel it has a touch of "In the Year 2525" by Zager and Evans about it.
 
The Days of Purley Spencer by David McWilliams, much better than Marc Almonds methinks.

Does anyone else feel it has a touch of "In the Year 2525" by Zager and Evans about it.

Just a touch, maybe.
 
A strangely compelling programme - and I too felt for Michel and the life events he had to endure. Especially when the system didn't deliver what they had promised and he wanted/needed.
 

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