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Mini - A Life Revisted (1975) - BBC4 Tues 10PM
pete137
Posts: 18,392 Forum Member
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Apologies if already a thread but couldnt find one. Caught a clip of this on the one show yesterday and looks very interesting.
"First broadcast in 1975, this provocative documentary about an 11-year-old serial arsonist shocked millions across the UK. Michael 'Mini' Cooper had already torched a church and set his family home ablaze with his violent father asleep upstairs. The film follows the angelic looking 'Mini' over a gruelling three-week period in a young offenders home in County Durham, as social workers and psychiatrists quiz and probe the charismatic and intelligent tearaway as they determine his future.
Franc Roddam's film has a simplicity and directness that captivates whilst never shying away from the seriousness of the situation. Roddam would go onto find fame in Hollywood, but nearly 40 years on remains close friends with Cooper, who has spent most of his life in and out of jail, care, mental health units and halfway houses.
Cooper has channelled his experiences into a revealing new book 'Mini and Me' and the programme also sees both Franc Roddam and Mini Cooper in conversation with Alan Yentob."
"First broadcast in 1975, this provocative documentary about an 11-year-old serial arsonist shocked millions across the UK. Michael 'Mini' Cooper had already torched a church and set his family home ablaze with his violent father asleep upstairs. The film follows the angelic looking 'Mini' over a gruelling three-week period in a young offenders home in County Durham, as social workers and psychiatrists quiz and probe the charismatic and intelligent tearaway as they determine his future.
Franc Roddam's film has a simplicity and directness that captivates whilst never shying away from the seriousness of the situation. Roddam would go onto find fame in Hollywood, but nearly 40 years on remains close friends with Cooper, who has spent most of his life in and out of jail, care, mental health units and halfway houses.
Cooper has channelled his experiences into a revealing new book 'Mini and Me' and the programme also sees both Franc Roddam and Mini Cooper in conversation with Alan Yentob."
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Comments
I hate the Devil, nice cheery songs they teach you at Sunday School.
I can see why they filmed him, he's a rather compelling little character, which is rather at odds with what he says and things he's done.
No he wasn't. He was a victim of circumstance.
I actually gave this my full attention, and found the film fascinating. Such an independant bright little boy - what a pity his talents weren't channelled in a more useful direction. He wasn't bad - compelled, I think, to do what he did. His father was a terrible bully, and his mother well meaning but under her husband's control. :mad:
It was interesting to watch the follow up from 1985 on the red button.
This reminds me of the insane asylums back in the days, when people had little mental care, were abandoned by society, and ultimately ill prepared for reintegration when they do leave those places. Mini was not an incurable case, and if only he was allowed to discover an alternative outlet to his expressions, he could have been a productive and a much happier person.
When Mini was told about being put into an institution, just like every other interview in the film, he took the news quietly and calmly. But this was still just a small 11-year old boy, and you see him not being able to stop the tears rolling down his childish cheeks. It was absolutely and utterly heartbreaking.
It is therefore so great to see that Michael Cooper the man has finally managed to regain some part of his confidence. I'll be very interested in reading his autobiography, and wish him all the best in his future ventures in life.
I missed the beginning of the programme and didn't realise his father was a bully. He seemed very fond of Mini and very involved with him.
I could not understand how the film crew were allowed such access to the case at the time.
What gave you that impression?
Or do you personally know his parents?
I knew right from wrong aged 8.
Probably because you were taught right from wrong by people who cared for you and gave you the correct environment to grow up in.
I felt I wanted to give him a hug and go back in time and put it right!! Silly I know.
If the autobiography is written as well as he speaks it will be a spectacular read.
It was a bit more complex than that.
I got the impression the problems started when Mini had to stay with an Aunt when his mother was having her 4th child. I wonder if the reasons were fully explained to him? I get the impression he felt a little abandoned. We tend to forget that children can't rationalise like adults. Yes, I felt like that too - hind sight is a wonderful thing.
Yes it was, If I could go back in time, I would have done things differently in regard to my own children.
Assumption on your part, I'd say, that his Mother would have objected if she wasn't dominated by the Dad.
That's exactly my assumption. He came across as domineering and she came across as quite docile.
I'm not going to go down the well trodden and worn out route of 'smacking is beating' argument because we both really know there is a vast difference between the two.
It was said in the documentary that mini's father punched him. Mini felt that this was wrong and he would have accepted being
Smacked. This psychologist also talked to Mini about his father trying to strangle his mother when they were in the car. This did not appear to be the first time this had happened. The parents admitted to arguing. Which is a classic understatement.