Aileen: The Life and Death of a Serial Killer (2003/2004)
Coming on the heels of the hype
of "Monster," the phenomenal feature film based on
the life of female "serial killer" Aileen Wuornos,
comes this documentary about her execution. Focusing
mainly on the last year in her life, as she endures
numerous court appearances and attempts to change
her story of that from killing in self-defense to
killing for money. Wuornos, mainly, sadly, just seems
to want to die so that she may put an end to her suffering.
Documentarian Nick Broomfield is
fortunate enough to interview Wuornos many times during
this period of time until she ultimately gets her
wish and is put to death in October of 2002. His situation
mainly stems from his original coverage of Wuornos'
initial trial in the early 90's where he helped to
champion her self-defense pleas. Broomfield, who narrates
the film with a somewhat pompous British accent that
continually reminds one of Robin Leech, used his coverage
of Aileen's early trials and incarceration to form
his 1992 documentary, "Aileen: The Selling of a Serial
Killer."
This follow-up film acts mainly
as the capper to the story. Those who have not seen
the original documentary, the feature film, or the
numerous TV True Crime shows that spew out information
about the crimes and the initial trial will find only
a cursory introduction to the story here to get them
caught up. In other words, this film really shouldn't
be used as an introduction to the story, this film
is mainly for those already quite familiar with the
case.
For those, however, two things become
evidently clear with this film. First and foremost:
Wuornos is indeed out of her mind, And secondly: In
American we execute killers who are out of their minds.
Seeing Wuornos speak her mind, the film becomes amazing
as we watch her waver back and forth between seemingly
civility and sanity and utter delusion and rage. It
is often frightening to behold. At times, she seems
like the nutty best friend of your mother who used
to live down the street and then, almost in the blink
of an eye, she becomes a seething lunatic cursing
every person in sight. It is astounding to see this
even on video.
Watching Wuornos is like watching
a metronome click back and forth. At one moment she
is cursing the media circus surrounding her case,
the next brushing her hair for Broomfield's camera.
One moment she says she killed in self defense, the
next she recants and claims she killed for money.
Broomfield allows Wuornos to simply say what's on
her mind, although he does question her as often as
he can about what she is saying. But ultimately, he
lets us see the woman as she presents herself and
he lets us decide what is true and what is not. In
many ways, even with Broomfield's obtrusive opinions
and "outsider's" (i.e. non-American), obvious condemnation
of the death penalty, this film is an unbiased look
at Wuornos.
Almost subtextural is what happens
in America in modern society. Wuornos insists that
the police knew of her killings from the beginning
but allowed her to continue to kill to both get unsavory
men of the street and to, more importantly, build
her up as a serial killer so that there would be massive
amounts of money to be made from books, TV shows and
films. Wuornos paints an ugly picture of a society
based on greed, money lust and amorality. Judging
from the plethora of films, books and TV shows about
her making a killing in the marketplace right now,
it's hard not to see her point.
Then again, like all Americans,
when the camera is about to roll, even Wuornos primps.
Note:
The film features news clips with
Jeb Bush, the governor of Florida who sighed the warrant
that put Wuornos to death.
Joan Churchill, who I believe did
much of the camera work is credited as co-director.
Although the film premiered at Cannes
and opened in the UK in 2003, it did not see an official
release in the US until January 2004.
Viewed on a VHS screener provided
by the distributor, Lafayette films, and the Dobie
in February 2004.
