Misbehaviour (2020) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A historian and a feminist collective challenge a sexist televised spectacle while the contest produces a historic result.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A Historian Finds Her Cause

Sally enters university and meets Jo at a women's rights conference. After helping Jo evade arrest, Sally is brought into the women's group and its planned protest.

Key Events

• History Admission — Sally successfully applies to study history at University College London. Characters: Sally Alexander Location: University College London
• Rights Conference Meeting — Sally meets Jo at a conference focused on women's rights. Characters: Sally Alexander, Jo Robinson Location: Women's rights conference
• Billboard Arrest Escape — Sally helps Jo evade arrest after a sexist billboard is defaced. Characters: Sally Alexander, Jo Robinson Location: London street
• Women’s Group Invitation — Jo introduces Sally to the group, which invites her to develop protest messaging and media. Characters: Sally Alexander, Jo Robinson Location: Women's group meeting place

The Contest Under Pressure

The Miss World contestants arrive in London amid questions about racism, sexism, and exploitation. Sally develops a plan to disrupt the live broadcast.

Key Events

• Contest Controversy — Bob Hope is hired to present the contest despite controversy surrounding the appointment. Characters: Bob Hope Location: London event planning setting
• Contestants Reach London — The Miss World contestants arrive in London before the competition. Location: London
• Contestant Solidarity — Contestants bond over racism, sexism, and the degrading pressures of the competition. Location: Contestant accommodation
• Broadcast Disruption Plan — Sally plans to disrupt the live broadcast, and group members buy audience tickets. Characters: Sally Alexander, Jo Robinson Location: London meeting place
• Private Political Warning — A contestant privately reveals threats connected to speaking about anti-black racism in South Africa. Location: Contestant accommodation

Safety Versus Resistance

Sally faces personal pressure over her activism and her relationship with Gareth. A car bomb outside the theatre raises the stakes, but Sally and Jo refuse to cancel.

Key Events

• Family Pressure — Sally faces arguments about activism, her daughter, and the strain on her relationship with Gareth. Characters: Sally Alexander, Gareth Location: Sally's home
• Theatre Car Bomb — A car bomb explodes outside the theatre, and the attack is attributed to an anarchist group. Characters: Sally Alexander, Gareth Location: Outside the competition theatre
• Protest Decision — Gareth urges cancellation, but Sally and Jo decide that the protest will continue. Characters: Sally Alexander, Jo Robinson, Gareth Location: Near the competition theatre

The Broadcast Breaks

The contest begins behind a picket line, and Bob Hope delivers sexist jokes. Sally and Jo's group attacks the stage with heckling and flour, interrupting the live broadcast.

Key Events

• Picket Line Crossing — Contestants, audience members, organizers, and Bob Hope cross the protesters' picket line. Characters: Bob Hope Location: Competition theatre entrance
• Sexist Opening Jokes — Bob Hope opens the event with a series of sexist jokes. Characters: Bob Hope Location: Competition stage
• Final Seven Announced — The judging panel reduces the contestants to a final group of seven. Location: Competition stage
• Stage Flour Attack — Jo and Sally's group heckle Bob Hope and throw flour onto the stage. Characters: Sally Alexander, Jo Robinson, Bob Hope Location: Competition stage
• Broadcast Interruption — The protest temporarily halts the live television broadcast. Characters: Sally Alexander, Jo Robinson, Bob Hope Location: Television broadcast venue
• Arrested Protesters — Police arrest Sally and Jo while the broadcast later resumes. Characters: Sally Alexander, Jo Robinson Location: Competition theatre

Victory and Complicated Legacy

The contest produces a historic winner while Sally and Jo are arrested. The post-script shows the protest's influence and states that efforts against patriarchy continue.

Key Events

• Second Place Result — A contestant receives second place before the final title is announced. Location: Competition stage
• Historic Winner Announced — A woman of colour is announced as Miss World for the first time. Location: Competition stage
• Backstage Disagreement — As Sally is taken away by police, she has a disagreement with the newly crowned winner about the protest. Characters: Sally Alexander Location: Backstage at the theatre
• Activism Legacy — The protest publicizes women's liberation, while the post-script records later lives and continuing patriarchy. Characters: Sally Alexander, Jo Robinson Location: Post-script

Story Breakdown

• Sally Enters History — Sally begins her academic path and encounters organized feminist activism.
  • University Admission — Sally successfully applies to study history at University College London.
  • Conference Encounter — Sally meets Jo at a women's rights conference.
• Jo Opens The Network — Jo connects Sally to the women's group after their encounter with police.
  • Billboard Escape — Sally helps Jo evade arrest after a sexist billboard is defaced.
  • Group Collaboration — Sally is invited to help with protest messaging and media.
• Contestants Expose Inequality — The competition reveals overlapping experiences of racism, sexism, and exploitation.
  • London Arrival — The Miss World contestants arrive before the competition.
  • Private Warning — A contestant describes threats linked to speaking about anti-black racism.
• Sally Designs Disruption — Sally turns frustration with casual sexism into a plan targeting the live broadcast.
  • Audience Infiltration — Group members volunteer and purchase tickets to enter the audience.
  • Relationship Strain — Activism creates conflict involving Sally, her family concerns, and Gareth.
• Theatre Becomes Battleground — A bombing and the picket line intensify the confrontation before the contest begins.
  • Car Bomb — A car bomb explodes outside the theatre.
  • Protest Continues — Sally and Jo proceed despite Gareth's plea to cancel.
• Broadcast Meets Resistance — The feminist protest directly interrupts the contest and challenges its presenter.
  • Sexist Jokes — Bob Hope introduces the event with sexist jokes.
  • Flour Bombing — Sally and Jo's group heckle Hope and flour-bomb the stage.
• Arrests And Historic Result — The protest leads to arrests while the competition delivers a landmark outcome.
  • Broadcast Resumes — The live broadcast is temporarily halted and then resumes.
  • Historic Crown — A woman of colour becomes Miss World for the first time.
• A Continuing Movement — The post-script connects the protest to later lives and an unfinished political struggle.
  • Publicized Liberation — The protest widely publicizes the women's liberation movement.
  • Ongoing Patriarchy — The film concludes that attempts to bring down patriarchy remain ongoing.

Directed by

Philippa Lowthorpe

Key Cast

• Keira Knightley — Sally Alexander
• Gugu Mbatha-Raw — Jennifer Hosten - Miss Grenada
• Jessie Buckley — Jo Robinson
• Keeley Hawes — Julia Morley
• Phyllis Logan — Evelyn Alexander