Between 1962 and 1964, more than a dozen women were strangled at the hands of the nicknamed serial killer the Boston stranglerwhose method used to be discovered thanks to the journalistic work of two women: Loretta McLaughlin and Jean Cole, who without being assigned to the crime page They decided to investigate and link the attacker’s clues to his first three crimesand published their story.

This mysterious story (still unsolved for some) will be something to talk about again from Friday, March 17, when it premieres on the Star Plus platform. the new movie starring Keira Knightley as McLaughlin and Carrie Coon as Jean Cole, written and directed by Matt Ruskin.

By approaching the story of the murders from the perspective of the two reporters, the film not only follows the investigation of the cases, but also reveals from the heart of a journalistic newsroom the obstacles professional women faced at the time who wanted to stand out in the 1960s. “When we meet her at the beginning of the film, we see that she wants to tell big, really important stories, but she’s not allowed to. Feel that frustration of not being able to do what you wantKnightley explains about her character.

for Ruskin, it was important to show not only your commitment to the job, but also personal challenges and obstacles which they had to deal with at a time when there were not many women on the editorial board of a newspaper. “Both worked to keep the women of the city informed, risking their lives. at a time when the police fell short on that point”, he noted.

Albert DeSalvo (1931-1973) was charged with the murders and died in prison.

The actress duo quickly clicked and built a close relationship, which is evident in the shared scenes. “We are in similar situations in our lives as working moms, and in the movie we play two working moms, so it’s a great way to get to know someone along those linesKoon remarked.

Besides working on the minds of the characters, Knightley and Coon had a talented team that made the looks like perfect for female reporters of a detailed period reconstruction. Arjun Bhasin, the film’s costume designer, took inspiration from the fashion of the 1960s, but with a practical and realistic approach. “We are based on photos of real people of the time, a lot of photos and street journalism. When we see a historical film, it’s usually so about hats, dresses and clothes that you forget people wore them every day,” she explains.

This release marks the second film adaptation of these murders. The first was screened in 1968 and starred Tony Curtis with a script inspired by the book written by Gerold Frank.

Although the official version refers to DeSalvo as the killer, others believe the real perpetrator of the crimes was George Nassarwho is still alive in prison.