We, The Accused (1980)

Concept and creative process

Opening titles for ‘We, The Accused’, a drama adaptation by Julia Jones of the novel by Ernest Raymond. The title sequence took the form of a live action shoot filmed in a small studio set-up. It depicted a desk covered with artefacts related to the main protagonist’s profession as a schoolteacher. The scenario unfolded in a montage of close-up shots as ink poured out from an overturned stoneware bottle. The camera followed the course of the ink in detail, finally discovering a ‘hanging man’ carved in the desktop, which became engulfed by the blue-black flow of ink. It was a strong visual metaphor for the story of murder, flight from justice and retribution which unfolded over five episodes.

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