THE WRONGED MAN

US, 2010, 100 minutes, Colour.
Julia Ormond, Mahershalalhashbaz Ali.
Directed by Tom Mc Loughlin.


The Wronged Man is quite a moving television movie, not an unfamiliar story, but one that is always important.

The film is based on magazine articles and the true story, giving names and dates.

A young black man is accused of raping a young girl, witnesses identifying him as the assailant. He is convicted, and serves 17 years in jail, although innocent. The film shows the story of Janet Gregory, here named as Priscilla, a legal aid who became involved in the case, pursued it for years, made many petitions all of which were denied. In the meantime, there is the background of her dead husbands, bringing up her son, his anger at his mother’s giving so much time to the case.

The story is complex, emotionally, because Calvin, naturally, becomes very angry many times throughout his story and has to apologise to Priss. His wife leaves him and remarries, has a family. But his mother perseveres with working for his acquittal.

This might never have happened without the development of DNA technology, groups examining cases for presentation and the acceptance of Calvin’s case. And proof that he had no connection to the rape.

Audiences need films like this to remind them that justice is not always done even if it seems to be and that perseverance of lawyers is important for releasing the innocent – and that the developments in DNA have been very helpful in proving innocence for so many incarcerated men and women.

1. Effective television movie? Target audience? The original articles, interest, adaptation of the story?

2. A true story, names and dates, 2003 release? Subsequent activities?

3. The title, the accused, the terrible crime? 17 years in prison innocent? 1980s and 1990s, into the 21st century the changing times? Friends, family, the evidence, the feasibility of his guilt? The witnesses and motivation?

4. Priss, introduction, at work, her boss and reliance on her, legal files, the boss and his being struck by lightning? The offer of a job? Her previous marriages, her husbands deceased? Care of her son and bringing him up?

5. The file, delivering it, the reaction of the family? The wife’s hostility?

6. Calvin, in jail, the visits? Priss organising his presence at the funeral of his father? His anger, apology? The repetition of anger and apologies? At the prison, the guards, the other inmates? His being moved to other prisons? Fights? The phone calls, the information about his wife’s wanting a divorce, having another man, pregnant? The build-up of hope and refusals over the years?

7. Priss, her interest in the case, getting Calvin to the funeral, the discussions with Calvin’s mother, watching the behaviour of Calvin’s wife and her separation from him? The witness, the flashbacks? Luther as a possibility and suspect? Information about another man, mistaking Harry for “hairy”? The lead to Luther?

8. The number of petitions over the years, the signatures, the succession of denials?

9. Priss, her son, the memory of her husbands, over time, his growing up, his anger at his mother’s dedication to the case? Randy, his friendship, expecting a transplant, the surgery? With Priss, marrying, helping? The scene in the diner with Luther and his being there to help? The pathos of his death? His funeral?

10. The years passing, Calvin and his separation from his wife? His mother’s visits?

11. DNA possibilities, the application, the cost, the organisation for testing cases, their acceptance of his plea? Going to the church, the Minister and his not wanting to know about Calvin, the reaction of the congregation, the mother’s plea? Change of heart, the fund-raiser?

12. The mother of the raped girl, her sticking fast to her conclusions, her believing the evidence, acceding to Priss for some kind of examination?

13. The result, no connection between Calvin and the rape? The visit, the time taken for the law to make the judgement?

14. The court scene, the judge, the prosecutor, Priss getting upset, fearing a negative judgement, going into the judge’s room, his calming her down, a judgement favourable to Calvin?

15. The joy, Calvin’s release, after so many years? Priss and her achievement?

16. Issues of justice, the improvement in justice with DNA?

17. The aftermath and Calvin’s work after his release?