Rent Stephen (2021)
3.8 of 5 from 58 ratings
2h 14min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
On 22nd April 1993, 18-year-old black student, Stephen Lawrence was murdered in a racist attack. Thirteen years later, in 2006, Stephen's family are still fighting for justice. DCI Clive Driscoll (Steve Coogan) finds Stephen's cold case files. He is convinced that the crime can be solved but his interest in the case attracts hostility from colleagues. After a series of forensic breakthroughs, two of Stephen's suspected killers, Dobson (Stephen Patten) and Norris (Rob Witcomb), are arrested and stand trial. While they await the verdict, Doreen Lawrence (Sharlene Whyte) tells Clive that whatever the outcome, the fight for justice will go on. The jury find Dobson and Norris guilty. The judge commends Clive and says he expects him to pursue the remaining suspects. Instead, Clive is forced into retirement. - Actors:
- Sharlene Whyte, Steve Coogan, Hugh Quarshie, Jonjo O'Neill, Jay Simpson, Sian Brooke, Graeme Hawley, Adil Ray, Sam Troughton, Keir Charles, Jorden Myrie, Nancy Carroll, Rob Witcomb, Stephen Patten, Freddie Stabb, Yasmin Mwanza, Michael Akinsulire, Richie Campbell, Jackie Clune, Gershwyn Eustache Jnr
- Directors:
- Alrick Riley
- Producers:
- Madonna Baptiste
- Writers:
- Frank Cottrell Boyce, Joe Cottrell Boyce, Clive Driscoll
- Studio:
- Dazzler
- Genres:
- British TV, TV Courtroom Dramas, TV Crimes, TV Dramas
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 18/10/2021
- Run Time:
- 134 minutes
- Languages:
- English Dolby Digital 2.0, English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
- Subtitles:
- English Hard of Hearing
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 1.78:1 / 16:9
- Colour:
- Colour
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- B
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Reviews (1) of Stephen
A phenomenal drama, perfectly shot with no sanitising of the horror of the Stephen Lawrence murder - Stephen review by TB
This is perfect drama. As in, flat-out masterpiece. From the opening scenes, I was totally hooked and marathoned the whole series in one go. The writing was excellent and also really challenged some of the wrong narratives which were allowed to be said about the circumstances surrounding the Lawrence murder. Whilst it has been said to be a sequel to the Paul Greengrass film The Murder of Stephen Lawrence, you don't need to have seen that to get the full impact from this film. Even knowing the bare-bones details of the case is enough, plus there is a recap of the facts early on in the first episode.
Whilst Steve Coogan is the big-name draw to this series, for me he was absolutely eclipsed by Sharlene Whyte as Stephen's mother Doreen. Coogan does elevate his character above the standard police-series tropes, but Whyte is incredible. Dominating scenes with a burning sense of wanting justice for her son, who was repeatedly failed by the Met police, Whyte really makes you feel this agony.
As mentioned in the title, this series pulls no punches, and nowhere is this more so than in a scene within the first episode involving a reconstruction. I don't want to give any more details about this so as not to take away the impact, but it is really, really nasty. A skin-crawling and horrific look at the pure and abhorrent evil committed against an innocent and unarmed teenager on a night out with a friend.
Finally, the other element where no punches are pulled is in the devastating portrayal of the Met Police. This review was written in the week where the Casey review was published. It is disgusting that, in the 30th anniversary year of Stephen's murder and after the highly critical MacPherson report, there is still the deep-rooted issues within that police force. Hopefully there will now be deep and meaningful change.
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