“A
stark, perfectly-delivered and tense
heavyweight BBC television drama,
now making its debut on DVD, Public
Enemies follows a convicted murder,
released from prison on probation,
who desperately wants to find his way
back to normality...”
A HARD-HITTING DRAMA SCREENED over a three-day period to great critical acclaim
by the BBC in January (2012), the riveting Public Enemies looks at the
effects of the British Justice system on the lives of those who are part of
it.
Created by multi-award winning writer Tony Marchant (Holding On; Garrow's
Law), Public Enemies stars two of the top British acting talents
of the moment. Probation Officer Paula Radnor (Anna Friel: Limitless; Pushing
Daisies) has returned from a three-month suspension and is given the supervision
of Eddie Mottram (Daniel Mays: Shifty; Vera Drake), who was convicted
of killing his 17-year-old girlfriend, Georgia Whiteley, and has served ten
years.
“Public Enemies is
a complex, gripping and
incredibly moving drama
that benefits from a
tightly-woven storyline and superb
British acting talent”
Paula
had been suspended following the killing of a young woman, Sandra, by the heartless
Philip Pointer (Glen Davies), whose case she was supposed to be managing and
who had disappeared off her radar long enough to commit the murder. Now it seems
she is under scrutiny from everybody as she takes on yet another convicted murderer.
Haunted by what happened to Sandra and anxious to prove herself to her team
and her senior Marion Sharmer (Lorraine Ashbourne), Paula is determined not
to put a foot wrong; but she has not taken into account the complicated case
she is just about to become too personally involved with.
Eddie's sister Kelly (Georgina Rich) picks him up as he is paroled, and gradually
introduces him back to her two daughters. She doesn't believe for one moment
her brother was guilty; and Eddie, having done everything that was asked of
him, now wants to start his life over again.
Nothing is simple and Eddie finds frustrations in dealing with Paula and Colin
Bolt (Terence Maynard), manager of the hostel in which he is living. Even when
Paula gets him a job, it comes with complications in the shape of the seductive
Jade (Aisling Loftus), whom he neglects to tell that he's a convicted murderer.
Meeting with old friends Darren Nunn (Joel Fry) and Glen Smithfield (Nick Blood)
gives him deeper anxieties than when he accidentally crosses paths with Georgia's
parents, Mr and Mrs Whiteley (Peter Wright and Barbara Marten).
Eddie is a tough character determined to get his life back and make something
of himself. His resentment of those who judge him and his former solicitor Trevor
Brotherton (Nicholas Gleaves), who may believe he is innocent, threatens to
spill out and put Eddie back inside — especially when he begins to change
his story.
Becoming more involved than she should be, Paula may be able to help Eddie reclaim
his life and his reputation. Or can she? Will the convicted murderer end up
back inside and living the life he is so desperate to escape from?
Public Enemies is a complex, gripping and incredibly moving drama that
benefits from a tightly-woven storyline and superb British acting talent.
Public Enemies also features: John Flanagan as Mr Arnold; Joanna Bacon
as Mrs Arnold; Priyanga Burford as Panel Chairman; Nathan Constance as Bryan
Willcott; Bethan Mary-James as Checkout Girl; Barnaby Kay as Will; Grace Willis
as Sadie Hay; Joe Armstrong as Ben Somers; Romy Irving as Abbey; Abbie Fox as
Jessie; and Roy Smiles as Mr Stiles (Garden Centre Manager). Produced by Julia
Stannard and Directed by Dearbhla Walsh.
• A hard-hitting drama dealing with the effects
of the British Justice system on the lives of those who become part of it, Public
Enemies comes to DVD courtesy of Arrow Films on 30 April 2012. Certificate:
15 | Running Time: 180 Minutes | RRP: £15.99 | Catalogue Number FCD631.
"Public Enemies is a complex, gripping and incredibly moving drama that
benefits from a tightly-woven storyline and superb British acting talent" —
Maggie Woods, MotorBar
"Brilliantly acted and directed, this is British drama at its best" — TV
Times
"Hard-hitting… Marchant's handling of a dark, highly politicised subject was
deft" — The Telegraph
“A
stark, perfectly-delivered and tense