CROSSED OVER

Canada, 2002, 100 minutes, Colour.
Diane Keaton, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Maury Chaykin, Nick Roth.
Directed by Bobby Roth.

Crossed Over is based on a book by Beverly Lowry who is portrayed in this film by Diane Keaton. The book is called Crossed Over: A Murder/A Memoir.

Beverly Lowry and her husband Ethan (Maury Chaykin) are mystified by the death of their son, Peter (Nick Roth) who had been in a rebellious mood.

As part of her coming to terms with the death of her son, Beverly Lowry reads about Karla Faye Tucker who is in prison for murder. She goes to visit her. The visits are tense but gradually a friendship develops.

The film is a portrait of a grieving mother, her relationship with her supportive husband who becomes desperate at her behaviour at times. It is a portrait of a young woman who had very little chance to grow up well with her mother, finding herself in prison, coming to terms with a born-again faith, engaged to the chaplain. However, she is still a victim of capital punishment – and the film shows actual George Bush talking about her death and the maintenance of the death penalty.

The film is in the vein of Dead Man Walking.

1.The significance of capital punishment? The protests against it? This film’s contribution?

2.The atmosphere of the Lowry home, ordinary life? The contrast with the prison, the visiting room, the cells?

3.The film based on a book? The characters and their real names rather than fictionalised?

4.Beverly Lowry, her relationship with Ethan, her relationship with her son? The flashbacks to his rebellion? Manner, dress, hair? The mystery of his death? Beverly and her regret that she did not even hear the ambulance? Her preoccupation with her relationship with her son, her regrets?

5.Her reading about Karla, going to visit her in prison, the initial discussions, becoming upset and leaving? Her decision to return? The conversations with Karla, getting to know her? The effect on Beverly? Her being better able to cope with her son’s death? Her becoming involved in Karla’s life, the minister, the marriage? Her discussions with her husband, his exasperation? The petitions against capital punishment? Karla and her condemnation? Her going to her death? Beverly and Ethan not allowed in?

6.Karla, her character, her background, her defence of her mother? Her poor education and opportunities? The murder? The husband of the victim and his anger at Beverly and Karla? Karla in prison, the confrontations with other prisoners? The minister, the marriage? Her going to her death? The lethal injection scene?

7.The minister, his talk about the pageant and the little boy, wanting to be the centurion, wanting to stay in costume with his spear – in order to save Jesus? The sequence as an indication of Karla’s conversion? The plan to marry the chaplain? His support at her death?

8.Capital punishment, President Bush, the excerpt from his speech? The people in support of capital punishment? The husband of the victim and his confrontations with Beverly? His presence?

9.The effect on Beverly and Ethan Lowry, Karla changing their lives?

10.Audiences and their response to capital punishment, for and against? How influential this film in establishing a point of view?