Fascinating and very well put together film on BBC2 which, if you missed, you should watch on iPlayer. About Brandon Lee, the 32 year old who pretended to be 16 in order to become a doctor and very nearly got away with it. It actually told you more about yourself - the viewer - than it did about hm - he struck me as a thoroughly decent man who dreamed a dream. The way those he befriended at school adored him. The way the media desperately wanted to find evil motives - especially sex. The way someone who clearly now ought to be a Doctor and would, I suspect, be a very good one. But cannot be due to the media coverage. Tragic in many ways.

I don't think a sociopath should be a doctor, but I found it absolutely fascinating.

I was confused by the footage of the police saying that his mother had no idea of what he was doing, though.
Did they think she wouldn't notice him going out in school uniform every day and earning no money?

As for the kiss, if the girl remembers it as a peck, and the footage shows a snog, it was probably a very skilful stage kiss with little contact.

Never sure what a Sociopath is (I've been called one). But I think this kind and decent man had a dreadful school life, determined to change it second time around and had no ulterior motive than wanting that. Of course his Mum (Gran) knew and went along with it. Neither realised the ramifications - especially when media got the story.

For me the key was the bullied boy who became a pharmacist who Brandon looked after. That, to me, trumped everything.

I remember the story in the news back in the 90s and found it fascinating then. For me, the man didn't do anyone any harm. He lied about his age to get into the school, but this didn't harm anyone. With regards to the kiss of the 16-year-old. This was scripted in the play, and Brandon seemed reluctant to go through with it. Whether the man is 32 or 16, what you see is what you see, regardless of the age label on it. Also 16 year old is over the age of consent, let alone for just a kiss. Do people feel queasy about big age differences, if so then look at Boris and Carrie or Corbyn and his wife (24 years difference on both)? The format of the film was very original. Talking heads from some of the people involved, with animations recreating some of the scenes at the time. I think some of the pupils would have benefitted from his experience and knowledge, like the young black man who became a pharmacist.

It was so well done; Alan Cumming miming just a few words at a time but doing it brilliantly.

robbiex wrote:
I remember the story in the news back in the 90s and found it fascinating then. For me, the man didn't do anyone any harm. He lied about his age to get into the school, but this didn't harm anyone. With regards to the kiss of the 16-year-old. This was scripted in the play, and Brandon seemed reluctant to go through with it. Whether the man is 32 or 16, what you see is what you see, regardless of the age label on it. Also 16 year old is over the age of consent, let alone for just a kiss. Do people feel queasy about big age differences, if so then look at Boris and Carrie or Corbyn and his wife (24 years difference on both)? The format of the film was very original. Talking heads from some of the people involved, with animations recreating some of the scenes at the time. I think some of the pupils would have benefitted from his experience and knowledge, like the young black man who became a pharmacist.

The black pharmacist in my local Boots is a very popular man, he has kind, concideratre and when my partner saw him to discuss some 'gyney' issues he had a very good bedside manner. My partner told him to leave Boots and become a GP. He almost cried because that what is aiming to be. He know a lot of John Mellancamp songs which was a bonus.

My only criticism of this show is that it didn't really go into how Brandon applied to go to the school. Surely you don't just rock up on the first day of term.

robbiex wrote:
I remember the story in the news back in the 90s and found it fascinating then. For me, the man didn't do anyone any harm. He lied about his age to get into the school, but this didn't harm anyone. With regards to the kiss of the 16-year-old. This was scripted in the play, and Brandon seemed reluctant to go through with it. Whether the man is 32 or 16, what you see is what you see, regardless of the age label on it. Also 16 year old is over the age of consent, let alone for just a kiss. Do people feel queasy about big age differences, if so then look at Boris and Carrie or Corbyn and his wife (24 years difference on both)? The format of the film was very original. Talking heads from some of the people involved, with animations recreating some of the scenes at the time. I think some of the pupils would have benefitted from his experience and knowledge, like the young black man who became a pharmacist.

She consented to a kiss with a fellow schoolboy actor, not a 32 year old man.

JK2006 wrote:
Never sure what a Sociopath is (I've been called one). But I think this kind and decent man had a dreadful school life, determined to change it second time around and had no ulterior motive than wanting that. Of course his Mum (Gran) knew and went along with it. Neither realised the ramifications - especially when media got the story.

What did you do to be called a sociopath? I am pretty sure you are not, but you do seem to have more than average narcissistic tendencies. (I mean it in a kind way )

Looking at it again today with more attention. It does show how he applied to join the school, by pretending to be his dad phoning up and convincing Mrs Holmes the deputy head that she didn't need to see his birth certificate.

I remember a boy at my school who had a full mustache and lots of stubble, who looked like Kevin Rowland. He could have easily passed for a 30-year-old man. People can look very different at the same age.

This was a great story and is worthy of a full dramatisation.

Honey wrote:
robbiex wrote:
I remember the story in the news back in the 90s and found it fascinating then. For me, the man didn't do anyone any harm. He lied about his age to get into the school, but this didn't harm anyone. With regards to the kiss of the 16-year-old. This was scripted in the play, and Brandon seemed reluctant to go through with it. Whether the man is 32 or 16, what you see is what you see, regardless of the age label on it. Also 16 year old is over the age of consent, let alone for just a kiss. Do people feel queasy about big age differences, if so then look at Boris and Carrie or Corbyn and his wife (24 years difference on both)? The format of the film was very original. Talking heads from some of the people involved, with animations recreating some of the scenes at the time. I think some of the pupils would have benefitted from his experience and knowledge, like the young black man who became a pharmacist.

She consented to a kiss with a fellow schoolboy actor, not a 32 year old man.

She consented to an acting kiss with the person presented in front of her. a Fellow adult. She admitted that it was just a little peck, and there were no tongues, etc. It is not illegal to kiss someone without knowing their age

robbiex wrote:
Looking at it again today with more attention. It does show how he applied to join the school, by pretending to be his dad phoning up and convincing Mrs Holmes the deputy head that she didn't need to see his birth certificate.

Mind control! Or cash in hand?

robbiex wrote:
I remember a boy at my school who had a full mustache and lots of stubble, who looked like Kevin Rowland. He could have easily passed for a 30-year-old man. People can look very different at the same age.

This was a great story and is worthy of a full dramatisation.

Some do look older. It seems daft when we look at the footage of the obviously thirty odd bloke, but the children at the school had nothing much to compare him with. Whatever we are presented as as normal, becomes normal.
I cant explain how the teachers didn't twig though.

robbiex wrote:
I remember a boy at my school who had a full mustache and lots of stubble, who looked like Kevin Rowland. He could have easily passed for a 30-year-old man. People can look very different at the same age.

This was a great story and is worthy of a full dramatisation.

I remember one lad at school he was already 6'2 when he was 14. He had a tattoo and he got served in any pub and strip club.

There was another lad who was nearly as tall but had a great stubble and he got served in a lot places but not all. His acne gave it away at times.

I do remember being refused service to buy razor blades and being refused to buy 6 pack when I was 24. I took it as a compliment.

Sadly, I now look my age.

I really rated this film - the way it was made was terrific and SO different. The point about a kiss is NOT whether or not he should have done it but how the media and people) only want SEX involved when it clearly wasn't at any time.

JK2006 wrote:
I really rated this film - the way it was made was terrific and SO different. The point about a kiss is NOT whether or not he should have done it but how the media and people) only want SEX involved when it clearly wasn't at any time.

Exactly.
Yes it was utterly brilliant, and all the more so for NOT answering all our questions, like why on earth would a grown man want to go on a nightmare package holiday with teenage girls he was not "interested" in.