Victim

Victim

Year: 1962

Runtime: 90 min

Language: Czech

Director: Basil Dearden

Drama

In a quiet Czech town near the border, the close relationship between Irina and her son Igor is tragically disrupted when he is violently assaulted by three Roma men. Consumed by grief and struggling to understand what happened, Irina begins to question her son's version of events. As she investigates, she uncovers unsettling discrepancies that lead her down a disturbing path, threatening to unravel her world.

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Timeline & Setting – Victim (1962)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Victim (1962). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

The action takes place in a contemporary British urban setting where reputation and career depend on discretion. Public morality and legal constraints surrounding homosexuality shape the atmosphere and stakes. The narrative moves through offices, homes, and public spaces where private lives are scrutinized.

Location

London, Chiswick

The story unfolds across London’s legal and social milieu, with Farr’s prestigious barrister practice at the center. His suburban home in Chiswick becomes a quiet stage for private turmoil and public exposure. Key locations include Farr’s office, his residence, Henry’s salon, and the circles of stage and media that intersect with the blackmail plot.

🏛️ Legal 🏙️ Urban 🗺️ London

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 08:15

Main Characters – Victim (1962)

Meet the key characters of Victim (1962), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Melville Farr (Dirk Bogarde)

A highly successful barrister who appears impeccably composed but struggles with his homosexual attraction. He is principled, career-minded, and willing to take risks to expose the blackmail ring, even at the cost of his reputation. His inner conflict drives the plot as he resolves to confront the attackers and seek justice.

🎭 Profession 🏳️‍🌈 Hidden truth 🕊️ Courage

Laura Farr (Sylvia Syms)

Melville Farr's wife, torn between loyalty and the pressure of maintaining appearances. She confronts her husband about the affair angle and shows a willingness to endure hardship for their marriage, revealing complexity beyond a simple judgment of his sexuality.

💑 Marriage 🕊️ Loyalty 🎭 Public image

Jack 'Boy' Barrett

A young working-class man who tries to protect Farr by seeking help after being blackmailed. His decision to steal money backfires, and Barrett's ultimate suicide in a police cell becomes the catalyst for Farr's campaign against the blackmailers.

🧑‍🦰 Vulnerability 💔 Desperation 🕵️‍♂️ Catalyst

Henry

A hairdresser who becomes a target of the blackmailers. His salon is vandalized and he suffers a heart attack, symbolizing the human cost of the scheme and the fear fueling the attackers.

💈 Salon 💣 Threat 🫀 Vulnerability

Sandy

One of the blackmailers who uses intimidation to extract money and information. Sandy's actions illustrate the predatory side of exploitation, escalating violence to pressure Farr.

🕶️ Extortion 🗜️ Pressure 💳 blackmail

Miss Benham

Partner in crime with Sandy, a figure who seeks to punish homosexuals and profit from their downfall. She embodies the social menace of the blackmail network.

🕵️‍♀️ Conspiracy 🗒️ Surveillance 💥 Power

Calloway

A prominent stage actor who resists helping Farr, preferring to maintain secrecy around his sexuality. He embodies the theater world’s complicity and fear of exposure.

🎭 Stage world 🫖 Secrecy 💬 Reputation

Phip

A car salesman and victim who agrees to help Farr by providing access to letters and photographs. His involvement highlights the vulnerability of ordinary people to the extortion network.

🚗 Car sales 💌 Letters 🕳️ Exploitation

Eddy

Barrett's friend and Farr's ally who helps to identify potential targets. He represents loyalty and the practical side of coordinating a counterattack against the blackmailers.

🤝 Ally 🗺️ Investigation 🧭 Loyalty

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 08:15

Major Themes – Victim (1962)

Explore the central themes of Victim (1962), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🪞 Hypocrisy

Respectability masks private desires, and Farr's outward success clashes with a hidden sexuality that the era condemns. The plot exposes how social reputation is leveraged to control individuals and suppress truth. The film uses Farr's inner conflict between duty and desire to critique a culture that stigmatizes homosexuality.

⚖️ Justice

Farr chooses to challenge the blackmailers and the laws that condemn him, pushing toward accountability beyond personal sacrifice. The story places legal procedure, police cooperation, and public trial at its center, highlighting the costs of exposing corruption. It also critiques whether justice can truly prevail under a system built on secrecy.

🗝️ Blackmail

A network of extortion thrives on humiliation and secrecy, preying on gay men who fear exposure. The plot traces how letters, photographs, and reputations become weapons in a coercive market. The tension escalates as Farr and the police work to dismantle the scheme and protect victims.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 08:15

Unlock the Full Story of Victim

Don't stop at just watching — explore Victim in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Victim is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Victim Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Victim, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Victim Summary

Victim Timeline

Track the full timeline of Victim with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Victim Timeline

More About Victim

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More About Victim

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