1. Portrayal of Innocence: Bentley is depicted as a young, impressionable boy rather than a hardened criminal, emphasizing his vulnerability and minimizing personal responsibility for the crime.
2. Emotional Acting: Christopher Eccleston's performance as Bentley conveys sincerity, remorse, and fear, humanizing him and enabling the audience to connect emotionally with his predicament.
3. Backstory and Motivation: Medak provides viewers with glimpses into Bentley's background, showing him as a troubled but sympathetic character who falls in with the wrong crowd while seeking friendship and acceptance.
4. Peer Influence: The film highlights the influence of Bentley's older companion, Chris Craig, on his actions, subtly shifting some of the blame away from Bentley and onto Craig.
5. Unfair Treatment: The portrayal of Bentley's trial and sentence reinforces viewers' sympathy by making it seem unjust. The trial appears biased, and the death sentence seems disproportionate to his alleged role in the crime.
6. Family and Friends' Reactions: Medak shows the emotional toll of Bentley's situation on his family and friends, adding depth to his portrayal and making his plight more universally relatable.
7. Contrast with Craig: The film subtly contrasts Bentley's character with that of Craig, making it clear that Craig is more culpable and hardened, further enhancing sympathy for Bentley.
8. Public Outrage and Activism: The film depicts the growing public outrage and activism surrounding Bentley's case, suggesting that society as a whole saw him more as a victim than as a perpetrator.
9. Final Letter: The emotional reading of Bentley's final letter before his execution adds a personal and heartbreaking touch, humanizing him further and creating even stronger sympathy.
By employing these techniques, Peter Medak effectively builds a strong sense of sympathy for Derek Bentley, making the audience identify with his plight and see him as a tragic victim of circumstances.