Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer

United Kingdom, USA

Synopsis

Synopsis

Filmmaker Nick Broomfield is subpoenaed to Aileen Wuornos' final appeal prior to her execution. He originally made a film about her in 1992, Aileen Wuornos: The Selling of a Serial Killer, extracts of which are played in court. However, part way through Aileen changes her mind, volunteers for execution an objects to her own childhood
witnesses, who are there to testify on her behalf. This film investigates her childhood in Troy, Michigan, and her mental state leading to the murders. This is done in a series of confessional conversations with Broomfield, culminating in her final interview, granted to Broomfield,before her execution on October 9th, 2002.

Filmmaker Nick Broomfield is subpoenaed to Aileen Wuornos' final appeal prior to her execution. He originally made a film about her in 1992, Aileen Wuornos: The Selling of a Serial Killer, extracts of which are played in court. However, part way through Aileen changes her mind, volunteers for execution an objects to her own childhood
witnesses, who are there to testify on her behalf. This film investigates her childhood in Troy, Michigan, and her mental state leading to the murders. This is done in a series of confessional conversations with Broomfield, culminating in her final interview, granted to Broomfield,before her execution on October 9th, 2002.

Nominations

  • European Documentary Award – Prix Arte 2004

Cast & Crew

  • Produced by: Jo Human
  • Editing: Claire Ferguson
  • Cinematography: Joan Churchill
  • Original Score: Rob Lane
  • Directed by: Nick Broomfield, Joan Churchill

Director's Statement

This is the most personal and most disturbing film I have ever made. I knew Aileen over the course of 12 years and the barbaric nature of her death had a profound effect on me, and months of nightmares. It was one film I didn't choose to make: I came to it as a witness and ended up attending the execution. The violence of taking a life remains the same whether it is legally sanctioned or not. It introduces murder into our vocabulary of behavior.

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