Longford

A powerful true story about crime, punishment, redemption and forgiveness, this HBO Films drama profiles one of the 20th Century's most unusual and magnetic public personalities: Frank Aungier Pakenham, the 7th Earl of Longford. Set in the last three decades of his life, the film explores Longford's Roman Catholic faith, his fervent belief in the power of redemption, and how he became a tireless champion of prisoners' rights, no matter how repugnant their crimes. Most notably, the drama recounts Longford's infamous meetings and correspondence with Myra Hindley, who was implicated in the murder of several children in England in 1966 and was vilified by the public while serving a life sentence in prison. Playing out amidst the media furor of the time, the story explores the reasons behind Longford's steadfast conviction that Hindley should be released and rehabilitated, showing how his advocacy and good faith, ironically, may have ransomed his good name and a reputation built over decades. (Verleiher-Text)