The film is set in 1920. At that time, it would have been very unusual to have a couple with mixed races (black/white), a black criminal judge or an Asian policewoman, as shown in the film. The ethnic minority characters are a modern phenomenon which unfortunately look anomalous. Also, the "offence" of libel which forms the basis of the trial is a civil matter and not a criminal one. There was no law requiring someone to wear a helmet on a motorbike until 1973 so it would not have been illegal in 1920, and the child protection service (mentioned several times during the film) was not established until 1989.
Review of Wicked Little Letters
