It might seem like we feature a lot of documentaries in our special category of Neglected Gems … and that’s because we do. All too often, wonderful and important documentaries are neglected by the public, such as Murder on a Sunday Morning: a 2001 examination of race and justice the USA by French filmmaker Jean-Xavier de Lestrade.

The film, which won the Oscar for best documentary, details the arrest and trial of Brendon Butler, a 15 year-old who was wrongly accused of the murder of Mary Ann Stephens in Jacksonville, Florida. Butler, as eventually proven in court, was picked up for the sole fact of being the first black suspect the Jacksonville police happened across, and the sole witness was strong-armed into “identifying” him by an overzealous prosecution.

More than just a by-the-numbers documentary, Murder on a Sunday Morning manages to be a gripping thriller; a courtroom drama more engaging than almost anything Hollywood has managed to put out. Butler’s story serves as a dire warning against swift justice, and the incredible and brave performance of his attorney Patrick McGuinness reminds us of the eternal need for vigilant, strong defense.

The movie had a very limited theatrical run in America, and most people saw it on HBO. It’s available on DVD now (or watch it now online via Amazon’s Video on Demand), and is a must in the collection of fans of both documentaries and true-crime drama.