Micro Men (2009) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A historical drama about the rivalry between Sinclair's ZX Spectrum and the BBC Micro during the race to supply the BBC's school-programming computer.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A New Computer Market

The drama introduces the late-1970s home computer market and its two principal sides. Clive Sinclair is associated with the ZX Spectrum, while Chris Curry, Hermann Hauser, and Steve Furber are associated with the BBC Micro.

Key Events

• Late 1970s Computer Market — The drama opens against the late-1970s home computer market. Characters: Clive Sinclair, Chris Curry, Hermann Hauser, Steve Furber Location: Home computer market
• Sinclair Enters the Story — Clive Sinclair is introduced as a leading market figure. Characters: Clive Sinclair Location: Home computer market
• ZX Spectrum Emerges — The ZX Spectrum is identified as Sinclair's creation. Characters: Clive Sinclair Location: Sinclair's computer business
• BBC Micro Team Introduced — The principal BBC Micro creators are introduced. Characters: Chris Curry, Hermann Hauser, Steve Furber Location: BBC Micro project
• BBC Programming Initiative — The BBC's school-programming initiative establishes the larger stakes. Characters: Chris Curry, Hermann Hauser, Steve Furber Location: BBC programming for schools

The BBC Sets the Stakes

The BBC's programming for schools creates a major opportunity for a home-computer provider. The proposed BBC grant turns the market rivalry into a focused competition.

Key Events

• BBC Programming Initiative — The BBC's school-programming initiative establishes the larger stakes. Characters: Chris Curry, Hermann Hauser, Steve Furber Location: BBC programming for schools
• Provider Competition Announced — The central race is defined as a contest to provide the BBC's computer. Characters: Clive Sinclair, Chris Curry Location: BBC procurement context
• The Grant Becomes the Prize — Winning a BBC grant becomes the decisive commercial objective. Characters: Clive Sinclair, Chris Curry, Hermann Hauser, Steve Furber Location: BBC grant competition
• Two Companies Collide — The two companies become the opposing centers of the drama. Characters: Clive Sinclair, Chris Curry, Hermann Hauser, Steve Furber Location: Home computer market
• BBC Micro Stakes Rise — The BBC Micro team's role in the grant race becomes central. Characters: Chris Curry, Hermann Hauser, Steve Furber Location: BBC Micro project

Rival Projects Collide

Sinclair's ZX Spectrum and the BBC Micro become the central symbols of the competing companies. The professional rivalry intensifies as both sides are connected to the BBC opportunity.

Key Events

• BBC Micro Stakes Rise — The BBC Micro team's role in the grant race becomes central. Characters: Chris Curry, Hermann Hauser, Steve Furber Location: BBC Micro project
• ZX Spectrum Stakes Rise — Sinclair's computer becomes part of the decisive market contest. Characters: Clive Sinclair Location: Sinclair's computer business
• Market Rivalry Intensifies — The competing projects embody the drama's escalating rivalry. Characters: Clive Sinclair, Chris Curry, Hermann Hauser, Steve Furber Location: Home computer market
• Historical Fact Meets Drama — The story combines historical material with dramatized events. Characters: Clive Sinclair, Chris Curry, Hermann Hauser, Steve Furber Location: The dramatized historical narrative
• The BBC Decision Looms — The competing sides remain focused on becoming the BBC provider. Characters: Clive Sinclair, Chris Curry Location: BBC grant competition

The School Computer Race

The contest reaches its highest stakes as the competing projects are judged in relation to BBC programming for schools. The drama combines historical fact with dramatized presentation.

Key Events

• The BBC Decision Looms — The competing sides remain focused on becoming the BBC provider. Characters: Clive Sinclair, Chris Curry Location: BBC grant competition
• Creators Face the Contest — The BBC Micro creators remain at the center of the competition. Characters: Chris Curry, Hermann Hauser, Steve Furber Location: BBC Micro project
• Sinclair Faces the Rival Bid — Sinclair's position is measured against the BBC Micro bid. Characters: Clive Sinclair, Chris Curry Location: Home computer market
• School Computing Stakes — The rivalry is tied to the BBC's intended school programming. Characters: Clive Sinclair, Chris Curry, Hermann Hauser, Steve Furber Location: BBC programming for schools
• Early 1980s Transition — The story moves into the early-1980s phase of the market race. Characters: Clive Sinclair, Chris Curry, Hermann Hauser, Steve Furber Location: Home computer market

A Rivalry Remembered

The story closes around the lasting rivalry between Sinclair's ZX Spectrum and the BBC Micro project. Its resolution remains framed by the historical computer-market contest.

Key Events

• Early 1980s Transition — The story moves into the early-1980s phase of the market race. Characters: Clive Sinclair, Chris Curry, Hermann Hauser, Steve Furber Location: Home computer market
• The Rival Companies Represented — The two company-centered narratives converge around the BBC contest. Characters: Clive Sinclair, Chris Curry, Hermann Hauser, Steve Furber Location: Competing computer companies
• Central Contest Reaches Its Peak — The race for the BBC grant forms the dramatic peak. Characters: Clive Sinclair, Chris Curry, Hermann Hauser, Steve Furber Location: BBC grant competition
• Computer Race Concludes — The drama closes on the rivalry between the two computer projects. Characters: Clive Sinclair, Chris Curry, Hermann Hauser, Steve Furber Location: Home computer market

Story Breakdown

• Market Emergence — The late-1970s home computer market provides the setting for the central rivalry.
  • Late Seventies — The story is set in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
  • Competing Companies — The drama follows two leading players and their respective companies.
• Sinclair's ZX Spectrum — Clive Sinclair's ZX Spectrum represents one side of the home-computer competition.
  • Clive Sinclair — Sinclair is presented as the creator of the ZX Spectrum.
  • Spectrum Project — The ZX Spectrum is one of the key computer projects in the drama.
• BBC Micro Team — Chris Curry, Hermann Hauser, and Steve Furber are connected with the creation of the BBC Micro.
  • Chris Curry — Curry is one of the principal figures on the BBC Micro side.
  • Micro Creators — Hauser and Furber are also identified as BBC Micro creators.
• BBC School Mission — The BBC's programming for schools gives the computer competition a public educational purpose.
  • School Programming — The BBC is seeking a home computer for its programming aimed at schools.
  • Public Opportunity — The school initiative makes the provider decision especially important.
• Grant Competition — The central plot is the race to win a BBC grant and become its home-computer provider.
  • Provider Race — The competing sides seek to become the BBC's chosen provider.
  • Rising Stakes — The grant transforms market competition into a decisive contest.
• Historical Rivalry — The drama presents the computer contest through a mixture of historical fact and dramatization.
  • Fact And Drama — The source description explicitly notes that some parts are historically factual while others are dramatized.
  • Computer Legacy — The narrative closes around the remembered rivalry between the ZX Spectrum and BBC Micro.

Directed by

Saul Metzstein

Key Cast

• Alexander Armstrong — Clive Sinclair
• Martin Freeman — Chris Curry
• Edward Baker-Duly — Hermann Hauser
• Sam Phillips — Steve Furber
• Peter Davison — Bank manager