Viewers have been moved to tears by a powerful new TV series based on a true story.
Disney+ has added a gripping drama that explores one of the most significant police crises in British history.
Online, viewers have shared emotional reactions. One person wrote, “An extremely hard watch, and the family deserves peace now.” Another said, “Watched this last night, brilliant series.” A third added, “A must-watch, absolutely speechless. Poor man and his family.”
Critics have also praised the series. Jack Seale from The Guardian described it as “The horror is still breathtaking.” Vicky Jessop of the London Evening Standard called it “One of the sharpest, most devastating pieces of television to come out this year.”
The series holds a 7 out of 10 rating on IMDb and an 88% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
This Disney+ drama tells the true story of Jean Charles de Menezes, a 27-year-old Brazilian electrician living in London who was mistakenly shot in the head by a senior firearms officer in 2005.
The tragedy took place after a series of coordinated suicide bombings on London’s public transport system during the morning rush hour on July 7, 2005. Three bombs exploded simultaneously on Underground trains, and a fourth detonated about an hour later on a double-decker bus. The attacks killed 52 people and injured over 700, marking the deadliest attack on the U.K. since 1988.
In the chaotic aftermath, police were searching for further suspects after an attempted second bombing on July 21. Jean Charles de Menezes was wrongly identified as one of those suspects. Surveillance officers followed him to Stockwell Underground Station, where he was shot seven times in the head and once in the shoulder at close range.
The case of mistaken identity sparked public outrage, with many accusing the police of misleading the public and covering up facts related to the shooting. No officers faced prosecution, but the Metropolitan Police were fined for breaching health and safety laws.
The series, Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes, produced by Kwadjo Dajan, stars Laura Aikman, Russell Tovey, Conleth Hill, Max Beesley, and Edison Alcaide.
The drama was made in consultation with the de Menezes family, who traveled to London for the series release. Speaking to the BBC, Maria de Menezes shared her hope that no other mother has to suffer as she has.
“I was reassured that the truth was being told,” Maria said. “They were going to be truthful about the story, unlike other media outlets and reports before, which told lies.”
Giovani da Silva, Jean Charles’ brother, confirmed their family’s involvement in the production and expressed relief that his brother’s story would finally be told honestly.
“We are very happy that the truth about my brother’s life is being told,” Giovani said. “His life of struggle, his roots in rural Brazil, and how he moved to another country in search of a better life.”Viewers Moved to Tears Watching the Shooting of Jean Charles De Menezes
