We are seemingly now living in a world of ‘alt-facts’ and deliberate, often brazen, misinformation. The truth is often an obscured commodity, but in these times its value is at its highest. Mick Jackson’s Denial tells a story about a story, about the truth and the importance of standing up for it. It takes the legal tussle between Dr. David Irving and Penguin Books as its foundation, and opens up a powerful discussion on opinion masquerading as fact. Something that can lead down some very dangerous paths.
This evening the film had a Gala screening at the Ham Yard Hotel in Soho. We were there on the red carpet and present our interviews from the event. The film stars Rachel Weisz, Tom Wilkinson, Timothy Spall, and Sherlock alumni Andrew Scott and Mark Gatiss. Mick Jackson directed David Hare’s screenplay adapted from Deborah Lipstadt’s book History on Trial: My Day in Court with a Holocaust Denier.
Scott Davis and Colin Hart were on the red carpet this evening to ask the questions. They asked Andrew Scott about bringing an element of comedy into such a serious movie, how he researched his character, and we talk about his returning role as Moriarty in the BBC’s Sherlock. They asked Timothy Spall about his own recollections of the event itself, how he worked with footage of the man he plays and working in an ensemble film.
The team also spoke to Deborah Lipstadt herself, who talked about working with Rachel Weisz to prepare her for the role. and how it was to find herself back in the courtroom for the film.
Denial is out in UK cinemas on the 27th of January.
Denial Premiere Interviews
Timothy Spall
Andrew Scott
Tom Wilkinson
Professor Deborah Lipstadt
Director Mick Jackson
Denial Movie Synopsis
Based on the acclaimed book Denial: Holocaust History on Trial, Denial recounts Deborah E. Lipstadt’s (Academy Award® winner Rachel Weisz) legal battle for historical truth against David Irving (BAFTA nominee Timothy Spall), who accused her of libel when she declared him a Holocaust denier. In the English legal system, in cases of libel, the burden of proof is on the defendant, therefore it was up to Lipstadt and her legal team led by Richard Rampton (Academy Award® nominee Tom Wilkinson), to prove the essential truth that the Holocaust occurred.
Denial is released in UK cinemas on the 27th of January.
