THE MATTHEW SHEPARD STORY

US, 2002, 100 minutes, Colour.
Shane Meier, Stockard Channing, Sam Waterston, Kristen Thomson.
Directed by Roger Spottiswoode.

The Matthew Shepard Story is based on actual events in Wyoming in 1998. Matthew Shepard was a local student, who had come out, was picked up in a gay bar for a lift home and taken out into the fields and brutally murdered. The case raised a furore around the United States and was reported widely around the world. This film was made very soon after the events, especially the court case which found the assailants guilty.

The film focuses on the parents of Matthew Shepard and their handling of the court case, especially the hearing for the penalty, the law asking for the death penalty. However, while the parents want the death penalty, the mother is touched by going to the prison, the adamant father goes to the scene of the crime – and makes a moving speech at the end accepting the deal for concurrent life sentences. The content of the speech is strong, a reflection of mercy, the father pointing out that the death penalty is not a positive and fitting memorial for the murdered son.

Stockard Channing and Sam Waterston are excellent as the parents. Shane Meier is the son.

The incident also provoked a theatre piece, The Laramie Project, which was also filmed with a number of film stars impersonating the people of Wyoming and reflecting on the impact of this killing.

The film was directed by Roger Spottiswoode, the Canadian director who began directing films with Terror Train and made quite a variety of films over a quarter of a century including And the Band Played On, Ripley Underground, The Sixth Day as well as the James Bond film, Tomorrow Never Dies.

1.A late 20th century story, American story? Homophobia? Gay bashing? Issues of coming out, acceptance? The courts, civil rights, tolerance and understanding.

2.The facts of the case, it being reported world-wide, The Laramie Project? The court case? The sentencing?

3.The film made soon after the events, the crime, the arrest, the trial, the sentence?

4.The visual style of the film: the wash style for the crime itself, suggestions of violence, not a realistic portrayal? The flashbacks to Matthew’s life? The trial and the flashbacks of the parents? The drama of the sentencing, the speech of the father? The drama of coming out?

5.The stance of the screenplay, sympathy and empathy, tolerance, human rights, respect?

6.The portrait of Matthew Shepard, sympathy in the flashbacks, his relationship with his mother, with his father? His father and the hunting sequences? The bonds with his father? School, friends? Going to Switzerland, the play, his relationship with Paolo? Fears, the relationship? The performance and the visit of the parents, the graduation? The visit to Morocco, his cavalier attitude, his being watched, bashed? Paolo clashing with him? His attitude and pride? The trauma? His mother’s visit? Returning to Wyoming, going to the university? Meeting with the gay group, friends, types, the lesbian friends, Romaine? His father absent in Saudi Arabia? His mother knowing of his orientation? Leaving home, setting up the flat, finding it hard living in the city, the noise from the adjoining apartment, his job, his treatment of customers, his being sacked because of homophobia? His reliance on Romaine for friendship? The return home, in the bar, in the toilet, being offered the lift, his being killed? The portrait of Matthew Shepard?

7.The portrait of the killers, vicious, the scene of the crime, seeing them later in the bar, the talk with Matthew? The killer in the court, his sentence, listening to Mr Shepard’s speech? The justice of the sentence?

8.Matthew and his friends, Paolo at the Swiss school, the performance, the intimate relationship, in the play, the clash in Morocco? At the university? The gay group? The friendship with Romaine? Her help?

9.The portrait of Mrs Shepard, at the trial, preparing for the sentence, her speech, her relationship with her husband, his absences in Saudi Arabia? The impact of Matthew’s death? The death penalty? The lawyers, the discussion, the offering of the deal? Her visit? The avoiding of the visit to the murder site? The effect of eventually going? Discussion of the deal with her husband? Her work in the various campaigns in memory of her son?

10.Mr Shepard, the bond with Matthew, the hunting sequence, in the family, the manly image, knowing his son’s orientation? The flashbacks, his acceptance of his son? His concern, the visit for the graduation? The crime, his being away in Saudi Arabia during the trial? His return, the issue of the death penalty, his severity, his voicing his stance, his reaction to his wife and the deal? Going to the fence? His being moved? Their visit to Romaine and the memories with her? The impact of his final speech?

11.The power of the speech, the contribution of the mother and father to the speech, the issue of mercy, not having death as a memorial of their son?

12.The impact of the film as a television movie? For the home audience?