The Killing of Sister George

The story is set against the early 1970s in Britain, a period of changing social mores and rising visibility for LGBTQ+ communities. The BBC's television culture and audience expectations shape the plot, including how characters fear being written out or changed for sensational storylines. The era's attitudes toward sexuality and power in media underpin the minefield of relationships in the film.

Applehurst is a fictional BBC television soap within the film, centered on the character Sister George. Much of the action unfolds on the Applehurst set and around locations like Gateways, a popular lesbian nightclub. The fictional town and studio environment reflect 1970s British TV production culture, with a sharp eye on gender and sexual politics. The juxtaposition of on-screen drama and off-screen lives drives the tension of the narrative.

💔 Abuse & Control

June's off-screen volatility contrasts with her on-screen role, illustrating how power can be wielded in intimate relationships. She dominates Alice, enforcing a controlling dynamic and punishing rebellion with belittling games like the contrition ritual. The film exposes the emotional and financial dependency that keeps abusive patterns intact. This theme shows how fame and industry pressure can enable personal mistreatment to persist.

🎭 Fame & Identity

Sister George is the beloved face of Applehurst, while June is a volatile, pragmatic force off-camera. The story probes how a performer’s identity becomes inseparable from a fictional persona, risking personal erasure when the show threatens to kill off the character. The audience’s attachment to the character drives the power dynamics among cast and producers. The narrative critiques the cost of celebrity on private life.

🏛️ Media Power

Mrs Croft's control over the show's fate demonstrates how broadcasters wield life-or-death decisions for talent and stories. The threat of changing or ending Sister George shows how executives manipulate art for ratings and careers. The script read-through and the surprise illness plot reveal the theater of the television industry. The film highlights the moral ambiguity of media power and its impact on personal lives.

🌈 LGBTQ+ Relationships

The central relationship between June and Alice examines love, dependence, and autonomy within a marginalized community. Alice's poetics and independence challenge June’s dominance, culminating in a betrayal that tests trust. The nightclub Gateways serves as a space where sexual and emotional boundaries are navigated openly. The film uses their relationship to explore desire, power, and the costs of liberation.