Watch The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies

The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies is a powerful and unsettling drama based on real-life events that occurred in 2010. Directed by Roger Michell, the film explores the media frenzy surrounding the arrest of a retired school teacher who becomes the prime suspect in the murder of a young woman. The film begins with the discovery of the body of Joanna Yeates, a 25-year-old landscape architect who was reported missing by her boyfriend. The police investigation quickly leads them to Christopher Jefferies (Jason Watkins), Joanna's landlord and former teacher, who is arrested on suspicion of murder.

Jefferies is a highly intelligent and eccentric man, with a distinctive appearance and a penchant for wearing flamboyant clothing. He immediately becomes the focus of intense media scrutiny, with reporters camping outside his home and digging into his past to uncover any details that might incriminate him.

As the investigation continues, it becomes clear that there is no conclusive evidence linking Jefferies to the murder. However, the media has already made up its mind, painting him as a weird, sinister figure who is the most likely culprit.

Jefferies, meanwhile, becomes increasingly isolated and vulnerable, with his reputation destroyed and his life turned upside down. He is subjected to verbal abuse and physical threats, with some members of the public even calling for him to be killed.

It is at this point that the film takes a more nuanced turn, as Jefferies begins to fight back against the media's malicious portrayal. With the help of a young African-Caribbean lawyer named Paul Okebu (Shaun Parkes), Jefferies files a complaint against the press, arguing that they have unfairly demonized him and violated his human rights.

The case becomes a major legal battle, with Jefferies and Okebu taking on some of the most powerful newspapers in the UK. The film portrays the complexity of the legal system and the difficulties of fighting back against the media, which is able to operate with impunity and often seems above the law.

As the case unfolds, we see the toll that the media circus has taken on Jefferies, who is struggling to come to terms with his sudden notoriety and the betrayal of his former colleagues and friends. We also get glimpses of his past, which reveal a man who has always been a bit of an outsider, but who is nevertheless unfailingly kind and compassionate.

The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies is a thought-provoking and timely film that raises important questions about the role of the media in our society, and the dangers of a rush to judgment. It is also an engrossing character study, with Jason Watkins giving a superb performance as a man who finds himself trapped in a nightmare of his own making.

The film is beautifully shot and expertly directed, with Michell showing a deft touch in balancing the different elements of the story. The script, by Peter Morgan, is taut and gripping, and manages to evoke both sympathy and anger towards the characters involved.

Overall, The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies is a powerful and disturbing film that will linger in the mind long after the credits roll. It is a sobering reminder of the dangers of the media's insatiable appetite for sensationalism, and the need for greater accountability and responsibility in the press.