Sus (2010)

1979: Election Night - A police interview room. Delroy's pregnant wife has been found dead in a pool of blood and he is brought in as the chief suspect. He is interrogated by D.S. Karn, a ... See full summary »

Director:

Robert Heath

Writers:

Barrie Keeffe (screenplay), Barrie Keeffe (play)

Stars:

Ralph Brown, Clint Dyer, Rafe Spall

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ralph Brown	...	D.S. Karn
Clint Dyer	...	Leon Delroy
Rafe Spall	...	D.C. Wilby
Anjela Lauren Smith	...	Georgie
Merlin Reeves-Dyer	...	Background Artist
Simone Reeves-Dyer	...	Background Artist
Jordan Allen	...	Background Artist
Johanna Ambaye	...	Background Artist
Guido Geissler	...	Background Artist
Katrina Hardy Saenz	...	Background Artist
Keiran Mahon	...	Background Artist
Laurie Mahon	...	Background Artist
Cherish Rufaro Mutambara	...	Background Artist
Steven O'Connell	...	Background Artist (as Stephen O'Connell)
Anna Sawyer	...	Background Artist

Storyline

1979: Election Night - A police interview room. Delroy's pregnant wife has been found dead in a pool of blood and he is brought in as the chief suspect. He is interrogated by D.S. Karn, a witty, psychotic racist and his violent sidekick D.C. Wilby. Both high on the prospect of a Conservative landslide victory they try to lure him into a quick confession. Callous humiliation gives way to a barrage of sinister violence, leading to a devastating conclusion.

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Plot Keywords:

election night | suspect | police | trio | police station | 

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Taglines:

1979 Election Night. For One Man The Vote Is Already In.

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 May 2010 (UK)

Filming Locations:

Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Thin Film Productions,Mensch Films,3rd Eye Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

No Woman No Cry
Written by Vincent Ford
Published by Fifty-Six Hope Road/Odnil Music Ltd/Blue Mountain Music Ltd

User Reviews

When Will People Ever Learn?

Set on the General Election night of 1979, Barrie Keeffe's filmed play takes us back to a world where suspects could be held under the controversial 'sus' law - in other words, be held for questioning without being charged for long periods at a time. The production deliberately contrasts Margaret Thatcher's election speech, with its sycophantic thanks to the police for their efforts in sustaining public order, and the institutionalized racism of the two officers (Ralph Brown, Rafe Spall) questioning an African-Caribbean man (Clint Dyer) about the death of his wife. Set in a claustrophobic interview-room, interspersed with graphic shots of the dead woman, SUS is at times very difficult to watch, especially when the officers physically abuse the suspect. They are not particularly interested in obtaining a conviction, but rather to (ab)use the suspect as an outlet for their own racist resentments that Britain has apparently been overrun by immigrants, and ruled by governments dedicated to the cause of "human rights," while neglecting the rights of the indigenous population. What renders the film more shocking is to reflect on how little has changed in the 35 years since Thatcher came to power. Even after the much- publicized "reforms" of the police in the wake of the Stephen Lawrence case, there are still officers within the force who harbor equally racist sentiments, while the success of Nigel Farage's UK Independence Party (UKIP) in recent elections reveals the extent to which the British people dislike what they perceive as the so-called "malign" influence of immigrants. Thirty-five years ago it was the African-Caribbeans; now it is the Eastern and Southern Europeans. SUS stands as an object lesson to show how prevailing attitudes seldom change, despite the protestations of successive governments to the contrary.