American Violet (2008/Image Entertainment DVD)
Picture: C+
Sound: B- Extras: B Film: B
Justice in America. It still seems that there are two types, one
for the rich, the other for the poor. This
kind of disproportion always leaves room for exploitive opportunities that
undermine authority and the society and since the 1980s, this has become much
worse. When you add racial politics and
gender politics, it can show a dark side to things in the U.S. that
should not be so. Tim Disney’s American Violet (2008) is one such
tale, but one that turned back the regressive wheels of making money on the
defenseless.
Dee Roberts (Nicole Behaire) is a young working mother of
four, who is loving and caring. Though
she has the support of a great mother (Alfre Woodard), she also has an abusive
ex-husband (Xzibit) who is also dating a former child sexual offender. One day, she is arrested at work for what she
thinks are too many parking violations.
Instead, it is for a charge of drug distribution that turns out to be
trumped-up and her ugly odyssey begins.
The charges are so bad, they could send her to prison for
up to 25 years, but they offer her a plea bargain that would make her life
easier. However, she refuses and a
battle begins that changes Texas
law forever. Turns out prosecutors are
paid for the most convictions, so many people are being railroaded into prison
for crimes they did not commit for profits.
Roberts refused to admit to something she did not do, sued the state and
won. The one lynch-pin on her case was
that a single witness could put her away.
You have to see the film to learn the rest, but it is worth going out of
your way for and when you see how plea bargains contribute to our prison
overcrowding, you’ll be outraged if you care.
The anamorphically enhanced 2.35 X 1 image was shot on
35mm film (likely Super 35mm) and is a little soft on DVD, but we wonder if the
Blu-ray looks better. There is limited
styling here and composition is not bad throughout. I would have loved to see a film print or the
Blu-ray. The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is
very good and has a decent surround field for an often dialogue-based
film. Extras include a trailer,
Director’s Audio Commentary and Telluride Film Festival Interviews that include
the real-life survivor of the tale.
- Nicholas Sheffo
