Writer Jimmy McGovern discusses his new drama set and filmed in Liverpool.
Unforgivable, an original drama from multi-award-winning screenwriter Jimmy McGovern (Time, Cracker, The Street) centres around the Mitchell family who are dealing with the devastating aftermath of an act of abuse perpetrated by a member of their own family. The drama examines the extensive ripple effect of abuse from multiple perspectives and how those involved can try to move forwards in the midst of the devastation.
Why is Unforgivable a story you wanted to tell?
I received a letter from a woman who works with sex offenders and wanted to speak to me. She spoke no holds barred about her job and working with sex abusers. She told me certain facts and figures that are quite unbelievable, so I want people to watch the film and learn things about child abuse. I felt compelled to write about it.
Is it common for people to approach you with ideas in that way?
Yes, I do hear from lots of people, and they’ve all got burning issues, you know but you can’t go to all of them. Another that sticks out for me was Common which is about joint enterprise. The person had sent me a letter which had taken a month to reach me and I was going to write back and say no for all kinds of reasons, but I decided to phone and say no. As soon as I heard the human voice I was sucked in.
So you’ve got to be careful of that. You’ve got to be careful of saying yes to everybody, otherwise you’d be at everybody’s beck and call. But there are some stories that are so good, so interesting, that you can’t say no, and on this one (Unforgivable) there was that type of story.
You’ve written about this topic before in different ways with shows including Priest and Broken. Can you share why you wanted to explore this from a new perspective?
I’ve always been quick to condemn child abusers, as we all are and as we all should be. This is not a film that goes easy on child abusers at all. I wanted the audience to hear a few of the things I’d learned. I think we should be ultra cautious whenever we’re dealing with abusers. I’m a father and a grandfather, I would find it very hard to forgive somebody who had done that to me or my family.
Western civilization was built on Judeo-Christian values and mercy and forgiveness are important Judeo-Christian values. All of our Judeo-Christian values are going right out the window.
Society needs to address it’s own fear, ignorance and hate instead of looking down on groups they deem lesser while pondering “should we let these people back into the fold.” If they have to ask “should we forgive” (people forced to register) then society needs to work on itself first.
The very idea that society assumes that WE are beholden to THEM for judgement, acceptance infuriates me.