January 28, 2005

Misery at the multiplex

Star Tribune

Jeff Strickler
January 30, 2005

A pedophile reentering society after 12 years in prison moves into a quiet, family-oriented neighborhood. A man sexually abused by a priest when he was a child sets out for revenge. A despondent crippled man tries to kill himself.

Events from the daily news reports? They could be, but in this case they're all plots from movies.

Filmmakers are increasingly turning to real-life situations for their stories, and, in the process, they are setting off a complex and sometimes bitter debate over the appropriateness of their movies.

On one hand, they are applauded for tackling difficult issues with real-world implications. At the same time, they open themselves to criticism that they're making money off someone else's misery.

Posted by kshaw at January 28, 2005 07:10 PM