A KILLING IN A SMALL TOWN (EVIDENCE OF LOVE)

US, 1990, 100 minutes, Colour.
Barbara Hershey, Brian Dennehy, Hal Holbrook.
Directed by Stephen Gyllenhaal.

A Killing in a Small Town offers a tour de force performance by Barbara Hershey. She won the Emmy for this portrayal of a small-town housewife and mother who, seemingly unexpectedly, batters a neighbour to death with an axe.

The film recreates the atmosphere of the small town, everybody knowing everybody else. However, the important aspect of the film is its portrayal of the housewife, taking her back into her childhood, her being almost a textbook case of suppressed rage, wanting to do the right thing. When an opportunity arose for an outlet, she erupted, killing her neighbour violently.

The film weaves an interview with her psychologist, played by Hal Holbrook, throughout the film so that gradually this situation of sanity but a lack of responsibility for the death is manifested. Brian Dennehy portrays the lawyer for the case.

Stephen Gyllenhaal went on to work with Barbara Hershey in the film, Paris Trout.

1. The impact of this telemovie? A portrait of ordinary people, extraordinary happenings? The home audience identifying with the situation, with the characters, the issues?

2. The film as award-winning, Barbara Hershey's performance?

3. The title and its focus? The book on which it is based, called Evidence of Love? The film based on a true story?

4. The importance of the structure of the film: the narrative of events, the mystery of Peggy's death, the interviews of Candy with the psychologist, the legal interviews, the politics of the town and the sheriff, the court case? Inserted into this narrative the flashbacks of her childhood and repression, the flashback of the murder? Audience attitudes changing towards Candy throughout the film? Final agreement with the jury?

5. Barbara Hershey's performance: the focus of the film on Candy, her dowdy appearance, hair, glasses, lack of make up, dresses? Her activity within the family, with her children? With her husband, the estrangement? The ordinary dealings, the church focus, school, picking up the children? The friendship with Peggy? The inexplicable experience of her death? Candy's covering up and denial? The discussions with the therapist, her denial, then admitting the truth? The discussions with the lawyer, her interview with Michael, her denial? Finally the revelation of the truth? The flashbacks to the affair, her taking the initiative, the matter-of-fact way she did it, Stan's response, their meetings, the lack of love between them, breaking off the affair? The reaction of her husband, his writing the letter and her weeping? The trial and the reaction of the crowds? The build-up in the therapy, the revelation of her childhood, wanting to do the right thing, the suppressed rage, the invitation to scream - the power of her scream and its release? The psychologist saying she was a textbook case, denial, her defences? The court scene, Michael using the therapy and the information, the flashback to the truth, Peggy's provocation, Candy's eruption? The verdict? The final scenes where she was blaming herself - and excuse for what she had done or not? Her own clear-eyed vision of herself?

6. Peggy, her neighbour, wife to Stan? Her disappearance? The revelation of the murder and its brutality? Her position in the town? The flashbacks, Candy and the discussions, picking up the children, the ordinary domestic details? Peggy's confrontation of Candy, the truth, her own passivity and depression? Her getting the axe, the confrontation, the angers, the attack, the fight, Candy killing Peggy? Her shower and acting as if nothing had happened?

7. Stan, her relationship with him, the invitation to the affair, the course of the affair, breaking it off? His impassive presence in the witness box, his admission of the truth?

8. Candy's husband, away from home, his interpretation of the affair, the sadness of the written letter, his standing by her at the trial?

9. Michael, family friendship, taking on the case, support of Candy, the discussions with the psychologist, realising the truth, preparing the strategy, seeming frustration, yet his skill in the court and vindicating her?

10. The psychologist, his skills, eliciting her life from Candy? The invitation to the scream? The final conversation?

11. The courtroom sequences, the people's reaction, the prosecutor and the questions? The verdict?

12. The insight into human nature, angers and oppression? Living up to appearances? The possibility of eruption? Sanity and insanity? Moral responsibility?