Movie: An American Crime
Director: Tommy O’Haver
Rating: ***1/2
Inspired from the interpretation of events based on ‘Baniszewski v/s The State of Indiana, 1966; director Tommy O’Haver with the help of Irene Turner and some testimonials based on court transcripts, narrate an outrageous story that shook the entire nation. ‘An American Crime’ is not a film but an inspiring depiction of human abuse and the events that revolved around it.
This is the story of Sylvia Likens and her sister Jennie Likens – daughters of travelling carnival workers, The Likens. In 1965, The Likens bid adieu to their daughters in the guardianship of single mother Gertrude Baniszewski and her six children. The Likens agree to pay Ms. Gertrude $20 every week via check to look after Sylvia and Jennie.
Ms. Gertrude doesn’t have a steady job but ironing clothes for meager pay every now and then. She’s sick and full-time on nonprescribed medication as she can’t afford a doctor. She also has a boyfriend just six years older than her eldest daughter Paula.
One evening, Ms Gertrude takes Sylvia and Jennie in to the basement and whips them with her belt because the check that was supposed to come ‘The Likens’ hasn’t arrived yet. What begins merely as an act of irritation turns messier than anybody could’ve imagined! Sylvia becomes the target of every mischief in the house. What follows is a gut-wrenching tale of human abuse paving way to a shocking climax.
The film starts off brilliantly – two happy-looking girls are enjoying a buoyant atmosphere of a carnival. One among them is Sylvia and she explains my life is like a merry-go-round ride – it goes up and down but comes back to the place where I started. This scene metaphorically explains Sylvia’s life at the Baniszewski’s where she would go back from school every evening only to be subjected to suffering.
Tommy O’Haver, who hasn’t made a film since ‘An American Crime’, didn’t even have a noteworthy film to his credit before that but with the film in discussion he certainly has proved what he’s capable of. Tommy along with Irene Turner has transformed one of the shocking stories in the history of mankind into a feature film that will actually churn your stomach with sheer brilliance. Tommy keeps the story as real as possible and doesn’t attempt to tamper with details so that the audiences emotionally connect with the film.
The flow of the film is interesting as each scene switches back and forth between past and present. You get succumbed in the film so much that at one point you wonder is there something you could to save Sylvia. That’s the kind of effect this film will have upon you. Catherine Keener’s role is the best of all and the influence she has on her children leaves a different effect by the end of the film. Ellen Page had two brilliants films to her name in 2007 – Juno and An American Crime. Her role in this film makes you sympathetic but leaves you convinced. Come to think of it, this is a film of a story of a girl stricken by misfortune.
In essence; ‘An American Crime’ is a warning to the world of little ill adventures people have in the name of vulnerability.