Rebuilding Hope

The American movie is biographical drama based on the real-life story of Cameron Todd Willingham.

In December 1991, Willingham (played brilliantly by Jack O Connell), sleeping in his modest Texas home is woken up by his young daughter’s screams only to realize that the house was up in flames. At that time only Willingham and his daughters are at home. His wife Stacy is out for Christmas shopping. Unfortunately, he is not able to save his daughters and they die in the ravaging fire. Willingham escapes with minimal burn injuries.

Two weeks later Willingham is arrested for causing arson and killing his young daughters. Unable to afford lawyers, the State assigns him legal help. However, arson investigating experts and the prosecution is able to prove that the pattern of fire was not natural. The investigating team concludes that some liquid accelerant was used to deliberately fuel the fire. A refrigerator is also found moved to block the door. Willingham’s own violent and criminal past coupled with testimonies from neighbours and prison inmate makes the case airtight. Willingham is offered a reduced sentence of life imprisonment (as against death) if he pleaded guilty of committing the crime. Willingham does not agree to plead guilty. He is sentenced to death.

Even as he gets used to cruel prison life, he begins learning and writing and eventually reaches out a letter to playwright Elizabeth Gilbert (played by Academy winning actress Laura Dern). She is sympathetic towards him even as the rest of the world has concluded on his guilt. She slowly begins questioning witnesses and believes that Willingham is not guilty of causing arson and killing his young daughters. Despite her best efforts, she is unable to save him from being executed. 

Willingham refused to plead guilty until his execution and filed several appeals unsuccessfully Willingham was administered lethal injection in February 2004. 

Years after his execution, controversy arose on the guilty verdict handed over to Willingham and the interpretation of evidence by the arson forensic investigation team. Firstly, the arson theory was rubbished. The testimony of a fellow jail inmate of Willingham was also questioned as he was found to be suffering from bipolar disorder and hallucination. A tattoo of a skull and serpent on Willingham’s shoulder indicated that he was a sociopath as testified by a psychiatrist. All these confirmed that the investigation was not objective and there was no scientific evidence of arson. But Willingham was dead. Truth was ravaged by fire?

Louise Talbot is a beautiful and flirtatious woman married to Bryan Talbot. All men in the small town of New Mexico lust after her. She is found dead outside her home one evening. When the investigation uncovers her affair with another man, her husband Bryan is the obvious prime suspect for having murdered her in a fit of rage and jealousy. 

29-year Ben Lewis is appointed as a Judge by the Governor as an act of gratitude to Ben’s father for saving his life many years ago. Ben, fighting with his own personal demons and inexperienced to handle the case nearly concludes that Bryan Talbot is guilty of murdering his wife. However, a twist of incidents makes Ben question Bryan’s guilt. Ben must serve justice while deciding on the guilt or otherwise of a man. A thrilling suspense.

An American anthology series on true crime stories, the American crime story features some of the most high-profile cases – from OJ Simpson double murder case, the Gianni Versace case, the Clinton impeachment case. In each of this case, the prosecution and defence arguments and legalese are explored besides offence / crime and its morality.