The Accused (a study guide)

In 'The Accused', the viewer is escorted through an actual courtroom drama. The accused is a middle-aged man charged with the importation of drugs - a crime that carries a penalty of more than 20 years imprisonment. The film is structured so that we see the trial mainly from the point of view of the defence barristers - Philip Dunn QC and Laurie Levy (film-makers note - this is because the defence team offered the most access to the film-maker in terms of how much they were prepared to be filmed, had the prosecution made a similar decision then a lot more of their 'behind-the-scenes- deliberations would have been shown) - in their passionate efforts to have their client aquitted.