The murder of Rachel Nickell in 1992 became one of the most horrific crimes in modern British history, partly because the 23-year-old woman was sexually assaulted and stabbed to death in broad daylight on a beautiful summer day on the Wimbledon course, and also because her two-year-old son, Alex, witnessed the entire incident. True-crime drama «"Witness"» (Netflix) could have been dark, sensational, and unpleasant (the streaming service has experience with that), but Joe Williams' miniseries takes a calmer, more powerful path. Its success is largely due to Jordan Bolger's phenomenal, star-making performance.
Jordan Bolger (right) and Max Fincham as grieving father and son Andre and Alex — Sophie Kohler/Netflix
Actor known for Peaky Blinders TV series« и «This City» , plays Andre Hanscombe, Nickell's partner and Alex's father, on whose memoir the series is based. Through Hanscombe's eyes, we are immersed in a world of meddlesome cops, vicious tabloid journalists, and well-meaning witnesses as he tries to make sense of a brutal crime while protecting his young son. The early scenes, in which Hanscombe and various police officers try to extract testimony from Alex, are beautifully shot. Director Alex Winkler lays his cards on the table from the start: we see Nickell and Alex playing in the park. And then we see an empty, quiet forest. We don't need to see anything else. The less we see «"Witness"» , the more heartbreaking it becomes.
The action unfolds in the days, weeks, and months following Nickell's death, as Hanscombe grapples with everything from Alex being taken away by social services to the return of a killer seeking to silence the only witness, and in the early 2000s, as father and son live in anonymity in Catalonia and the investigation is reopened thanks to advances in DNA technology. Bolger masterfully plays both roles, portraying an overprotective young father on the verge of a nervous breakdown and the elderly father of a wayward teenager struggling to mend his relationship with his son. A performance full of vulnerability, dignity, and restraint, Bolger reveals a man utterly shattered by grief. Max Fincham gives a superb performance as the elderly Alex, a boy desperate not to let murder define his life the way it did his father.
When the action moves from Hanscombe to the police investigation, TV series "Witness"« It's a bit slow, slipping into the typical British crime drama mold. However, the excellent cast keeps the series afloat. With talented actors like Claire Rushbrook, Paul Chahidi, and Jon Poynting in supporting roles, it's immediately clear that this is a Netflix production. Casting director Catherine Willis deserves special praise for skillfully utilizing British comedic talent in serious roles – Steve Stamp of« People just do nothing »"was a real revelation in the role of killer Robert Napper.
Eleanor Williams as Rachel Nickell and Jasiah Williams as young Alex — Rekha Garton/Netflix
The Metropolitan Police is understandably criticized for a series of institutional failures and mistakes, while the British press is portrayed as an angry, howling, unprincipled mob of thugs (perhaps fairly, in Hanscombe's view). Williams's script occasionally veers toward simplification and straightforwardness ("You can't keep him from the world forever," says Hanscombe's mother; "When will you let me stop being such a child?" asks Alex), but he handles the sensitive material well, using emotional devices sparingly.
A companion documentary also hits Netflix on Thursday, though father and son may feel that «"Witness"» didn't disappoint either. They also deserve credit for allowing themselves to be portrayed as complex, contradictory, and imperfect people. The final footage, shot using actual home videos and one photograph, will be particularly striking—if Bolger's performance hasn't already impressed you.
The series "Witness" and the documentary "The Murder of Rachel Nickell" are available on Netflix.
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