Community hub
Recent from talks
Contribute something to knowledge base
Content stats: 0 posts, 0 articles, 0 media, 0 notes
Members stats: 0 subscribers, 0 contributors, 0 moderators, 0 supporters
Subscribers
Supporters
Contributors
Moderators
Hub AI
An American Crime AI simulator
(@An American Crime_simulator)
Hub AI
An American Crime AI simulator
(@An American Crime_simulator)
An American Crime
An American Crime is a 2007 American crime drama film directed by Tommy O'Haver and starring Elliot Page and Catherine Keener. The film is based on the true story of the torture and murder of Sylvia Likens by Indianapolis single mother Gertrude Baniszewski. It premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival.
Because of internal problems with the film's original distributor, First Look International, the film was not released theatrically. The Showtime television network officially premiered An American Crime on May 10, 2008. The film was nominated for a Golden Globe, a Primetime Emmy (both for Keener's performance), and a Writers Guild of America Award.
In 1965, a pair of professional carnival workers named Lester and Betty Likens have two children, sixteen-year-old Sylvia Likens and Jenny, her disabled fifteen-year-old sister. Lester and Betty need to go on tour so they ask Gertrude Baniszewski to care for their children. Gertrude is a church acquaintance and the mother to Paula, Johnny, Stephanie, and several younger children. Although she is greatly impoverished, she agrees to take care of Sylvia and Jenny for a fee of $20.00 per week.
Shortly after the girls arrive, Gertrude becomes infuriated when Lester's weekly payment fails to arrive. Gertrude whips the sisters with a belt. Soon after, the payment arrives with a letter from Lester and Betty but Gertrude discards the letter without telling the sisters.
After while out with friends, Sylvia tells Paula's boyfriend about Paula's pregnancy, a secret she swore not to tell, after she sees him beat her up. Paula becomes furious and tells Gertrude. Gertrude forces Sylvia to apologize for "spreading lies" by having her oldest son Johnny hold Sylvia down so Paula can beat her.
Jenny discovers the letter from their parents in the trash. Sylvia telephones them, but she is seen by the Baniszewski children. Gertrude falsely accuses them of stealing money from her for the call and burns Sylvia with a cigarette.
After a church lunch, Gertrude accuses Sylvia of flirting with Andy, father of one of Gertrude's sons. She sexually abuses Sylvia and has her imprisoned in the basement "until she learns her lesson".
Gertrude instructs her children to lie that Sylvia was sent to juvenile detention. With Gertrude's knowledge and approval, Johnny regularly invites the neighborhood children to the basement to abuse Sylvia. Soon, Paula feels guilty and tells her mother Sylvia has been punished enough. Gertrude ignores Paula, reminding her that there is blood on her hands as well.
An American Crime
An American Crime is a 2007 American crime drama film directed by Tommy O'Haver and starring Elliot Page and Catherine Keener. The film is based on the true story of the torture and murder of Sylvia Likens by Indianapolis single mother Gertrude Baniszewski. It premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival.
Because of internal problems with the film's original distributor, First Look International, the film was not released theatrically. The Showtime television network officially premiered An American Crime on May 10, 2008. The film was nominated for a Golden Globe, a Primetime Emmy (both for Keener's performance), and a Writers Guild of America Award.
In 1965, a pair of professional carnival workers named Lester and Betty Likens have two children, sixteen-year-old Sylvia Likens and Jenny, her disabled fifteen-year-old sister. Lester and Betty need to go on tour so they ask Gertrude Baniszewski to care for their children. Gertrude is a church acquaintance and the mother to Paula, Johnny, Stephanie, and several younger children. Although she is greatly impoverished, she agrees to take care of Sylvia and Jenny for a fee of $20.00 per week.
Shortly after the girls arrive, Gertrude becomes infuriated when Lester's weekly payment fails to arrive. Gertrude whips the sisters with a belt. Soon after, the payment arrives with a letter from Lester and Betty but Gertrude discards the letter without telling the sisters.
After while out with friends, Sylvia tells Paula's boyfriend about Paula's pregnancy, a secret she swore not to tell, after she sees him beat her up. Paula becomes furious and tells Gertrude. Gertrude forces Sylvia to apologize for "spreading lies" by having her oldest son Johnny hold Sylvia down so Paula can beat her.
Jenny discovers the letter from their parents in the trash. Sylvia telephones them, but she is seen by the Baniszewski children. Gertrude falsely accuses them of stealing money from her for the call and burns Sylvia with a cigarette.
After a church lunch, Gertrude accuses Sylvia of flirting with Andy, father of one of Gertrude's sons. She sexually abuses Sylvia and has her imprisoned in the basement "until she learns her lesson".
Gertrude instructs her children to lie that Sylvia was sent to juvenile detention. With Gertrude's knowledge and approval, Johnny regularly invites the neighborhood children to the basement to abuse Sylvia. Soon, Paula feels guilty and tells her mother Sylvia has been punished enough. Gertrude ignores Paula, reminding her that there is blood on her hands as well.