After two decades on death row, Nick Yarris wrote to the
judge dealing with his case and asked to be executed. What makes a man do that?
In this mesmerising documentary, Yarris tells his story straight to camera.
His tale is heartbreaking, gripping and inspiring by turns. British
director David Sington carefully reveals the details, keeping the audience
hooked. The use of subtle and haunting reconstructions adds to the experience, but you can’t
help feeling that the bulk of the credit should go to Nick himself. He is an
excellent storyteller. His use of language is quite literary and almost floral
in places, a side effect of educating himself through books in his cell. Watching quite a few documentaries about the
American justice system in the last few years. I have learnt two things. One,
when being interrogated by the cops, don’t say anything except “I want a lawyer”. And two, being on death row is
an excellent way to become incredibly eloquent and poetic.
Nick is a deep thinker with a soul open to emotions and
experience. Listening to him describing the wonder he felt in the tiniest
sounds and scents (which are all he was afforded in solitary confinement)
really makes you see the world around you in a new way. He really plays your
heartstrings like a harp, telling tales that seem straight out of The Shawshank Redemption but are true. Can
you imagine anything better than that?
The Fear of 13 will
get a limited UK release on the 10th November, and has been part
funded by BBC Storyville so will probably be on TV sometime soon. I really can’t
recommend seeing it enough. I’d particularly suggest going to see it at select
Vue cinemas on the 11th, to see an exclusive Q&A afterwards.
If it’s anything like the Q&A at the showing I went to, it will be worth it.
No comments:
Post a Comment