Conspiracy of Silence

I really liked this film because it focused on the wrongful injustices that have been committed against North America's First Nations people. Helen Betty Osbourne along with Donald Marshall and JJ Harper are 3 examples of what they went through at the hands of Canada's so-called "justice system". "Conspiracy of Silence" was well made because it accurately depicted what went on from that incident late that night in 1971 to the actual convictions that were FINALLY made in 1986 when all 4 men involved in the murder were brought to trial. In the end, only 1 man (the guy who committed the actual murder) went to prison while the other 3 went free. Now although justice finally seemed to be served, it literally took 15 YEARS for the 4 men to be brought to trial!! That's what's so appalling about the whole situation! Helen Betty Osbourne had something in common with Donald Marshall and JJ Harper. All 3 victims were Native (Donald Marshall is the only one still alive). Helen was a Cree First Nations woman who was never viewed as a human being by the Canadian laws and governments. To them, she was only "an Indian" and because of that, it took a whopping 15 years for the offenders to brought to justice! Of course the 4 men who committed the crime were white so it didn't matter to the "justice system" that they killed an innocent person (especially if the dead person was Native). If I were the judge and jury of that case, ALL 4 men involved would have had a lengthy jail term because the law IS the law and it applies to EVERYONE in this country who commits a serious crime like that. There's no room for racism and its bogus policies in this so- called "justice system" of ours.

Well............ anyways........... this is why I gave this film an 8 out of 10.

The true story of a Native Canadian girl who was brutally murdered in November 1972 by four white Canadian teenagers. the four hour mini series is long enough to explain the town of The Pas' racism and reactions to the crime. One murderer even confesses to the crime. The character of Lee Colgan can become sympathetic to the audience. Since that night, he has become the second victim in a psychological sense. He himself has become unemployed, chronic alcoholic whose wife left him with their only son. In the small town, it becomes a well-known fact of Lee's repetitious confessions on his drinking binges. For fear of being killed, some girls remain silent but the town itself is fully haunted by the whole murder. They themselves become an ignorant accomplices to the crime with their silence. By protecting their own, they have cursed themselves into an real ugly image of racism. Still, the racism exists between the white Canadians and their Native Canadians. May Helen Betty Osburne rest in peace now. One painful scene in the movie is the last moment between Betty and her mother before Betty departs on a small plane to The Pas. While justice went undone for many years, it still haunts Manitoba.

I've seen Conspiracy Of Silence numerous times over the years and even today it's still a haunting story to watch it's so unbelievable that a murder case like this one took over 16 years to end. What made me a bit angry was that the town Of Pas, Manitoba, Canada kept silent, they chose to protect the killers and not come forward because it was only a native woman that died and they didn't care.

Gemini award winner Michael Mahonen delivered a knockout performance as Lee Colgan one of the four men involved with the murder who was just a kid who turned into a alcoholic because of the guilt he carried for years. I read the book written by Lisa Priest and it gives accurate details from the murder in 1971 to 1987 when the man who killed Helen Betty Osborne was finally brought to justice.

On November 12, 1971 Helen Betty Osborne, (St.John) was a nineteen year old Indian woman who was out for a walk when she was beaten and murdered by Dwayne Johnston (Tracey). After her body was discovered the town was scared and shocked, one of the suspects Lee Colgan (Mahonen) couldn't stop talking about what happened at the pump house that night. The police continued to question anyone who might know something about who killed the young woman and why. However the town chose to keep quiet and all four boys including Jim Houghton (Potts) & Norm Manger (Chambers) went free. 11 years later, the boys have all moved on with their lives however Lee Colgan turned into an alcoholic and hasn't stopped talking about that gruesome murder as a result his wife Sandy (Kidney) left him and took their children. When a new constable Steve Frishbilski (Ouimette) sees the case file he becomes fascinated by the case and decides to investigate, another add is put in the paper asking people who know anything about the 1971 murder of a 19 year old Indian woman to come forward and hopefully help to close this case.

Two women Sherrie Linder(Disher) and Angie (Johnson) both tell the officer what they know Sherrie says that Lee confessed to his involvement she wrote an anonymous letter to the town paper detailing Colgan's story about the murder which lead to his arrest in 1986. In exchange for immunity he has to testify against Dwayne Jonhston & Jim Houghton his best friend. Finally in 1987 the case was officially closed when Johnston was arrested and convicted of first degree murder . After seeing this chilling tale I hated that the town was so racist against Indian people and how they kept quiet all those years it shouldn't have taken all those years to solve a murder. 10/10

Miniseries about the killing of an innocent Indian girl and the entire town that failed to bring the guilty to justice. Set in The Pas, Manitoba, about as far north as civilization goes. The girl leaves home to get an education, but on one night she gets picked up by a carload of rowdy white boys and gets killed and dumped out. Originally shown on the CBC in Canada. It has been shown on Lifetime in the U.S.A. Vintage cars and songs are featured in this. Hypnosis is used to make a cab driver recall a license plate number. Canadian Indians are typically called "wagon burners." Excellent study of crime and white narcissism. You feel sad for the Indian mother who lost her daughter.

Michael Mahonen is both sympathetic and chilling in his portrayal of 'Lee Colgan' in this acclaimed Canadian mini-series, based on a the true crime novel of the same name, by Lisa Priest. This film is thought provoking, as the crime committed was motivated by racial prejudice in a small Canadian town, The Pas, Manitoba. Mr. Mahonen won the Gemini Award for his role, and it was well deserved. I recommend watching this film, which currently enjoys re-run status, on the U.S. cable networks Lifetime Television for Women & its 'sister network' Lifetime Movie Network (aka LMN)...Mr. Mahonen is truly an actor to watch out for in the near future!