|
|
Post by stu77 on Jan 1, 2023 3:58:45 GMT
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001gf5s/my-old-schoolIn 1993, 16-year-old Brandon Lee enrolled at Bearsden Academy, a secondary school in a well-to-do suburb of Glasgow. What followed over the next two years would become the stuff of legend.
Brandon had been privately tutored in Canada while he accompanied his mother - an opera diva - on tour before her tragic death. The preternaturally bright student surprised teachers by blazing toward his goal of entering medical school, displaying a wealth of knowledge beyond his years. Brandon found friends despite his initial awkwardness and took bullied students under his wing. He introduced classmates to seminal retro bands and even starred in the school's production of South Pacific - until his unbelievable secret was revealed.
Film-maker Jono McLeod explores the strange story of Brandon Lee. Utilising playful, period-specific animation, a pitch-perfect soundtrack, the memories of students and teachers, and the talents of Alan Cumming and Lulu to bring the tale to life, this documentary offers more than one surprise along the way and finally reveals the truth behind one of the most incredible stories of the past 30 years.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lord Emsworth on Jan 1, 2023 9:01:42 GMT
I've heard about this
Sounds well worth a watch
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2023 10:05:29 GMT
I watched this last week and I thought the way they treated the subject was disgraceful insofar that Lee was treated as an eccentric rather than a creepy predator.
The girl who he kissed on film at the school play's reaction years later said it all.
In the modern world he would be in jail although that also says a lot about the'modern world'.
Also, if believed, Lee's current life?Unsettling and disturbed individual.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lord Emsworth on Jan 3, 2023 15:13:42 GMT
Fab doc on the curious case of the Brandon Lee scandal. The less you know about the story the better you'll enjoy it. It's probably less about Lee himself and more about his contemporaries at school with him in the 1990s. Also an interesting look at how memories can distort. I really enjoyed it I watched this last week and I thought the way they treated the subject was disgraceful insofar that Lee was treated as an eccentric rather than a creepy predator. The girl who he kissed on film at the school play's reaction years later said it all. In the modern world he would be in jail although that also says a lot about the'modern world'. Also, if believed, Lee's current life? Unsettling and disturbed individual What was the bit about Lee's current life? I thought he was just doing very little and is occasionally spotted in the local library or walking the streets. Did I miss something? Re his "crimes" - my understanding is that he hadn't actually committed a crime hence why there were no repercussions Definitely a riveting watch though, but then I'd forgotten all about the original scandal His school contemporaries are an interesting bunch, and most seemed to view it all with humour and a sense of perspective Based on the way it was presented I certainly wouldn't label him a predator - unless there's stuff that wasn't covered in the doc. A predator suggests crime and victims. Is there more that the doc didn't cover? |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2023 17:09:28 GMT
You have to look at this programme in the context of what he was actually doing.
Do you think his actions were normal? I thought his obsession about becoming a doctor highlighted his mental health problems, especially when he was totally hopeless at the exams.
His school mates came across as embarrassed, awkward and unsure about his motives even though the narrative of the documentary was presented as a bit of a laugh and he was a bit of a 'curiosity'.
Would you be comfortable with a 32 year man posing as a teenager kissing your 16 year old daughter and befriending other naive, impressionable teenagers? I certainly wouldn't
As for McKinnon now, he just comes across as a creepy loner who avoids people because they know his behaviour wouldn't be tolerated now.
He might not haven't committed any crimes but trying to downplay his infiltration of a secondary school says a lot about the makers of this film.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lord Emsworth on Jan 3, 2023 17:40:15 GMT
Creepy but harmless is my assessment
As revealed at the end, the doc was actually made by Jono McLeod, one of the pupils in Lee's class at the school
The doc struck the right tone for me
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2023 20:55:01 GMT
Nah, imagine this happened in a working class Glasgow school like Holyrood, it'd be reported differently.
It was the tone of the reporting. However, for me as a story, it was dead and buried 30 years ago. Makes you wonder why it was dug up again...
|
|
|
|
Post by Lord Emsworth on Jan 4, 2023 10:48:10 GMT
What would the differences in reporting be?
Re: why it was made, my guess is that Jono wanted to give a voice to all his classmates and capture their reflections as adults
I thought it was fascinating and his classmates were all perceptive, funny and interesting.
The story is more nuanced than it first appeared: introducing one pupil to some great music, and resolving the bullying suffered by the black man. He thinks he partly owes his career as a pharmacist to Lee
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2023 12:43:08 GMT
It's all presented as a jolly jape because it's in wealthy Bearsden but if it was in a working class area, I wager the reporting would be a lot more sinister.
The reactions from the former pupils was one of unease and awkwardness and I think the cage fighter bloke got it right by stating if he was a doctor, he wouldn't let him come near him!
That pharmacist guy at the end as as thick as shit in the neck of a bottle!😄
|
|
|
|
Post by Lord Emsworth on Jan 4, 2023 14:57:13 GMT
It's all presented as a jolly jape because it's in wealthy Bearsden but if it was in a working class area, I wager the reporting would be a lot more sinister Interesting Why do you think that is? You also label Lee a predator, despite the lack of any obvious victims The reactions from the former pupils was one of unease and awkwardness and I think the cage fighter bloke got it right by stating if he was a doctor, he wouldn't let him come near him Definitely some unease but also a sense of perspective and amazement that anyone who do something so audacious That pharmacist guy at the end as as thick as shit That's harsh I was glad things had worked out so well for him - seems very sweet natured Hardly an idiot given he's qualified as a pharmacist |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2023 16:01:03 GMT
Don't you think a 32 year old man infiltrating a class full of schoolchildren and giving one of them a prolonged kiss isn't predatory?
How would you feel about it if it was someone you knew? Would you be OK with that?
You seem to admire him as do the film makers which is why I think the narrative is all wrong.
You must also be the only person who thought that McKinnon wasn't dodgy. Everyone I know who saw the programme thinks that he's a complete arsehole.
As for that guy at the end, you could just tell by looking at him that the wheel was turning but the hamster was dead intellectually.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lord Emsworth on Jan 4, 2023 18:39:59 GMT
The kiss is the one and only moment where it feels wrong
That said it is in the context of a school play and they are both playing a scene - and even then it's pretty tame stuff. I agree though, if I was the 16 year old playing the female role, looking back I'd have mixed feelings about it at the very least
The aspirational Mum was at the root of it. She was in on the whole thing and between them his failure to become a doctor was the driving force behind the scheme. That was his main motivation.
I'm baffled by your reaction to the Pharmacist. A perfectly pleasant bloke who was quite perceptive about his schooldays. Is it because he's a bit camp? To be a pharmacist, you need to complete a university degree (Master of Pharmacy (MPharm)) and a one year pre-registration training course in Pharmacy. To get a place on the MPharm course you need three A levels including Chemistry. Clearly a bright and hardworking person to achieve all that.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2023 18:53:29 GMT
You seem to be downplaying that kiss. Don't you think it was totally inappropriate, then and now It?It was hardly a peck on the cheek?
Again, don't you think that a guy who was obviously wasn't 16 with a whole life's experience is near impressionable kids? They might think they're adult but they obviously aren't.
So because someone wants to be a doctor at 32 it makes sense to go to a hig9h school and not night classes or a FE education college?!
What are you trying to suggest about the chemist being camp? Whoever mentioned his perceived sexuality? I didn't.
You can tell he was enamoured by the whole experience. Gullible and stupid.
Trying to whitewash over it does your appraisal of McKinnon and consequently your perception of this programme no favours...
Because someone is academically bright does that prepare them for making the right decisions in life?
I mean, look at the Tories...
|
|
|
|
Post by Lord Emsworth on Jan 4, 2023 19:29:37 GMT
Just as you seem baffled by my reaction, I am baffled by yours
The ex-students were not remotely traumatised
The only thing that comes close to it is the woman who had remembered the kiss being v quick was surprised that it went on for longer than she'd remembered. But it's not like there's tongues or anything. Also Lee refused to do the scene in any rehearsals
I'm not defending what he did, far from it, but he's not some kind of sexual predator either. He's just a messed up person trying to fulfil a frustrated ambition. His conduct seemed to be amazingly responsible all things considered - aside from the audacity to put it into action
I conclude the reason why you're so down on the Pharmacist is because he didn't react as you think he should - indeed he's clearly grateful to Lee for his help in studying and dealing with the bullying
As a documentary it's worked though as we're discussing it and also we've interpreted it in different
ways
Either way you must acknowledge it's a brilliantly made documentary
Alan Cummings doing the lip syncing is amazing
Plus the animation is excellent too
The most intriguing thing of all is how did "Brandon Lee" dupe all his classmates and the teaching staff. Unbelievable when you think about it. Especially as some of the teachers had known him first time round. For me that's what this doc is all about...how 30 of Jono McLeod's former schoolmates and teachers could have been taken in by such a ludicrous deception. Their bemused reactions are what makes it all so compelling
Stranger-than-fiction doesn’t come much stranger than this
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2023 21:09:06 GMT
^Possibly, the most revisionist thing I've ever read on here😄
You still evade my central questions? Why there and not a FE college?
A 32 year old man kisses a 16 year old girl and you think there's nothing strange about that, would you be comfortable with that if it was your daughter or a relative?
His actions are tantamount to what we would call grooming now, however subtle and 'non-sexual'.
Like the McCann's, this documentary trivialised abnormal behaviour in order to make it acceptable.
I've spoke to a lot of women about this and all them think he should be prosecuted.
I think you're reading too much into my comments.
Very, very odd🤔
|
|
