AN AMERICAN CRIME
The Story:
Based on a true story that shocked the nation in 1965, the film recounts one of the most shocking crimes ever committed against a single victim.
Two teenage girls - 16-year-old Sylvia Liken (Ellen Page) and her polio-stricken 14-year-old sister Jennie (Hayley McFarland), who are the daughters of travelling carnival workers. One summer, her parents Lester (Nick Searcy) and Betty Likens (Romy Rosemont), go on theroad and leave the girls with a complete stranger, a cash-strapped singlemother of six who attends their church - one Gertrude Baniszewski (Catherine Keener) -in return for weekly payments of $20.
Sylvia and Jennie are welcomed into the new family. Sylvia becomes fastfriends with 17-year-old Paula (Ari Graynor), who contributes to the household'smeagre earnings through a part-time job. Gertrude barely gets by with moneyshe makes from ironing and sporadic maintenance payments for her new babyfrom his father Andy (James Franco), a young layabout 15 years her junior who isabout to go off on military service.
Gertrude battles asthma, exhaustion and depression and starts to take outher frustrations on the new girls. She beats them with a belt when herparents' cheque fails to arrive one day, for example, an illogical act whichis the harbinger of much worse to come.
Indeed, when Paula tells Sylvia that she is pregnant by her marriedboyfriend, the real problems start. Paula falls out with Sylvia and lies toGertrude that she is spreading rumours about her at school; Gertrude stepsup her disciplinary action against Sylvia. She burns her with cigarettes andforces Paula to slap her.
When rumours of Paula's pregnancy start to surface, Gertrude refuses tobelieve that they are true and blames Sylvia. She has Sylvia thrownliterally down the cellar steps and keeps her locked up there, enlisting herkids and their friends to teach her a lesson - which consists of unspeakableand repeated violence and abuse.
Starring:
Ellen Page, Catherine Keener, Hayley McFarland, Michael O'Keefe, Ari Graynor, Nick Searcy, Bradley Whitford, Evan Peters.
Directed By:
Tommy O'Haver
Release:
2007
Watch the Trailer:
