Fiche Film
Cinéma/TV
MOYEN Métrage | 1998
Theme: Murder
Pays concerné : États-Unis
Support : 16 mm
Durée : 54 minutes
Genre : société
Type : documentaire

Français

Histoire vraie de meurtre, secrets et séxualité dans le monde de l’art world durant les années 50 et 60, Theme: Murder takes amène le spectateur dans un voyage dépaysant au coeur des combats et frustrations avec un homicide jamais élucidé. La coréalisatrice avait neuf ans en 1968 quand son père, le marchand d’art de Boston Hyman Swetzoff, fut violemment agressé et laissé pour mort dans sa maison. La quête de Martha cherche à donner un sens au meurtre non élucidé de son père au milieu des comportements envers les victimes et survivants d’homicide, le prix de l’homophobie, et la relation problématique entre les familles et les dispositions de la loi. Avec des interviews de l’auteur de fictions policières mettant en scène des crimes, James Ellroy, et la Brigade de la Police Criminelle de Boston.


de Martha Swetzoff et Jane Gillooly


Scénario: Martha Swetzoff, Jane Gillooly, Karen Scmeer.
Images : Jane Gillooly, Martha Swetzoff.
Montage : Karen Schmeer.
Musique : David Torn.
Productrices : Jane Gillooly, Martha Swetzoff.
16mm N&B-Couleur, 54 minutes

English

Screenplay: Martha Swetzoff, Jane Gillooly, Karen Scmeer.
Cinematography: Jane Gillooly, Martha Swetzoff.
Editing: Karen Schmeer. Music: David Torn.
Producers: Jane Gillooly, Martha Swetzoff.
16mm B&W-Colour 54′

A real life story of murder, secrets and sexuality, set in the art world of the 50’s and 60’s, Theme: Murder takes the viewer on an immersive journey into the struggles and frustrations of living with an unsolved homicide. The filmmaker was nine years old in 1968 when her father, the Boston art dealer Hyman Swetzoff, was beaten and left to die in his home. Martha’s search to make sense of her father’s unsolved murder frames an wide-ranging inquiry into attitudes toward victims and survivors of homicide, the price of homophobia, and the problematic relationship between families and law enforcement. Includes interviews with crime fiction author James Ellroy and the Boston Cold Case Squad.


by Martha Swetzoff, Jane Gillooly


Appropriate for: College/University
54 minutes – VHS
54 minutes – 16 mm


REVIEWS

« Filmmaker Martha Swetzoff generously takes the audience into the emotions and wisdoms known only to those who have lost a loved-one to murder. THEME: MURDER leaves us with a mystery, but also with many answers about ourselves and our society. »
-Gavin de Becker
Author, The Gift of Fear


« A powerful documentary which is important for any individual or family who has experienced the loss of a loved one to violent death, experienced grief, or wishes to understand the aftermath of violence in our society. Themes of darkness and light are interwoven in this compelling portrait which may challenge the viewer about the most basic of life assumptions. »
Bette Spear
Director, OMEGA Homicide Bereavement Program



PURCHASE OR RENT
54 min./ VHS
Institutions (Colleges/Universities) 0
Community Groups/ Public Libraries/ High Schools 0
Rental
54 min./ 16 mm
Institutions (Colleges/Universities) 0
Community Groups/ Public Libraries/ High Schools 0
Rental

AWARDS / SCREENINGS


National Educational Film & Video Festival
* Gold Apple

Chicago International Film Festival
* Silver Hugo

International Critic’s Jury, Figueira Da Foz Festival
* Best in Category (Medium-length films)

New York Gay & Lesbian Festival
* Best Documentary
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