An American Crime (2007)

Director:

Tommy O'Haver

Writers (WGA):

Tommy O'Haver (written by) &
Irene Turner (written by)

Release Date:

7 December 2007 (Sweden)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

This has been the most terrible crime ever committed in the state of Indiana

Plot:

The true story of suburban housewife Gertrude Baniszewski, who kept a teenage girl locked in the basement of her Indiana home during the 1960s.

Plot Keywords:

Carnival | Single Mother | 1960s | Basement | Teenage Girl

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 2 nominations

Cast

Ellen Page	...	Sylvia Likens
Hayley McFarland	...	Jennifer Faye 'Jennie' Likens
Nick Searcy	...	Lester Likens
Romy Rosemont	...	Betty Likens
Catherine Keener	...	Gertrude Baniszewski
Ari Graynor	...	Paula Baniszewski
Scout Taylor-Compton	...	Stephanie Baniszewski
Tristan Jarred	...	Johnny Baniszewski
Hannah Leigh Dworkin	...	Shirley Baniszewski
Bradley Whitford	...	Prosecutor Leroy K. New
Michael O'Keefe	...	Reverend Bill Collier
Carlie Westerman	...	Marie Baniszewski
Michelle Benes	...	Hope Orbach
Patricia Place	...	Mrs. Doyle
Calvin Keet	...	Mr. Doyle

Also Known As:

The Basement (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong and disturbing depiction of child abuse and torture.

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R (Certificate #43082) | Sweden:15 | Germany:16 | Spain:18 | Finland:K-15 | Netherlands:16 | Brazil:16 | Singapore:NC-16

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

First Look International

Trivia:

Ellen Page literally starved herself for her role as Sylvia. When director Tommy O'Haver noticed she was looking thinner, he asked her if she was eating and she replied "No, because Sylvia wasn't being fed."

Goofs:

Anachronisms: A Ford Maverick is seen parked outside the house. The Maverick was not introduced until 1969, four years after the events of the film.

Quotes:

Gertrude Baniszewski: [preparing to write the tattoo onto Sylvia's belly] Ricky... she came back from juvenile! Started stirring up trouble again... Johnny hold her!
Sylvia Likens: No, please, please!
Gertrude Baniszewski: Keep her still!
Marie Baniszewski: If you move, it'll only be messy.
Gertrude Baniszewski: [gives Marie a lighter and a safety pin] Light that.
Sylvia Likens: No! No! No! Please! No! No! Please! Please!
Gertrude Baniszewski: Stop it!
Shirley Baniszewski: You got it right, mama?
Gertrude Baniszewski: Make sure it's hot!
Sylvia Likens: I'm sorry! I'm sorry!
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 60th Primetime Emmy Awards (2008) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Hi Henry's Triumphal March

Wallowing Down With the Sickness

What a tragedy that I will never have an opportunity to see this film in a theatre. The cast alone that includes the currently very popular Ellen Page should have merited something better than Saturday night Showtime.

Because of this, the impact will be blunted, however even in its limited presentation, the film was stunning and will easily end up among my favorites for the year. The quiet contemplation of the mood and the selection of a hideous story from post-Beaver Cleaver trivial innocence, pre-late 1960s tumult creates a moment so far outside our expectations of this nonsense daily on 24/7 news channels that its impact nails you full frontal.

I particularly like some of the discussions of this film that complain that it was not graphic enough and because of this, didn't hit people 'in the gut.' This alone warrants a short meditation.

To paraphrase one of the best commentaries I've read on this thing, there is an inner sadist in all of us. America's history of violence and tolerance of violence just gives license to bring it out more often and intensely. And despite our strong sense of individuality and our braggadocio about freedom, we have this very strange conformist streak. The confluence of these two conflicted tendencies can lead to bad places.

This film meditates subtly and, yes, beautifully on all of this. By eschewing potential excesses that some complaining viewers apparently desired, the story puts us in a disturbing place where we might not suspend disbelief and acknowledge the raw emotions as something potentially alive within.

I believe it is this troubling recognition of possibility that branded this film in various ways keeping it from ever being seen in a theatre. By exposing it first on pay TV, the unwashed masses might easily mistake it for a poorly done version of sensational MSNBC serial killer crap. Stuff like this is pleasurable to many because it lets them wallow 'down with the sickness' while pretending they are above it.

There is a wonderful moment in the story when the almost involuntarily sadistic mother utters 'there are things in life we have to do whether we like them or not.' I can't help but think this was borrowed from the sadistic father figure in the original 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre,' a film that many wanted this to be so as to give them some form of absolution from their own demons 'An American Crime' exposes.