L'Épreuve du feu

Oh, dang... this movie is really heavy and sad at times. Based on a true story, a father denies deliberately setting his house on fire and killing his three young children. I don't believe in the death penalty (largely because MANY innocent people are convicted of murder), and this movie spends a lot of time on death row... at times, it's grim. But there's also hope in the movie and a stellar, layered performance from Laura Dern. Worth a watch if you can handle the subject matter.

Good acting, good writing even though I believe it could've been shorter and so much better. Some characters and relationships are meaningless and do not serve the story, some are kinda weakly-written. A good and impactful movie overall.

This is the third movie I have seen Jack O'Connell in where he is a prisoner, after Starred Up (excellent) and Unbroken (spotted but also very good) and it leads me to believe that perhaps he has something to say about the prison system and prisoner reform.

All three of these movies have in common the unrelenting need to showcase the individual as true and real to their beliefs no matter the hard forces that oppress you. And this is a very important thing to teach, something we really do not see enough of.

This movie I cannot get out of my mind and I believe it is for the fact that Jack O'Connell is clearly a master of acting and he is speaking for someone who has no voice of their own: it is gut-wrenchingly powerful. Never before have I seen an actor so devoted to portraying the underdog who is really forced to come to understanding of a terrible fate.

These types of movies are valid because they give you not just the story but the feeling. The feeling of being lost and forgotten, yet heard by someone. I don't care who you are, deep down everyone should be able to relate to that: being unheard by the masses but remembered by few. It's literally one of the only things we can strive for.

I probably won't be able to change your mind about whether or not you want to sit through (**another**) relentless prison movie where hope can only come through as passive understanding. And I won't say that this movie is for everyone but if you are curious about some of the major inequalities (and I say major because instead of reform we are just erasing these people from society) that plague or beautiful and modern world and you can stomach a little short of 2 hours of intense character development in an setting where development isnt just unencouraged but definitely unwanted then you need to check out this movie. Just remember though that the hope is still out there.

And I just want to end by saying "thank you" to Jack O'Connell. Your efforts to bring awareness to these causes is greatly appreciated not just by me but by many. And I know he would never read this but i just want to add that his depictions of struggles through insane situations has increased the desire in me to enact change as well, and that is what art is all about. So a huge applause to him for taking on the roles that must be near impossible to shake off at nite.

And if you enjoy this definitely check him out in Starred Up and Unbroken, then tell everyone you know about these injustices because that is the only way we will ever change as a society.

Thanks for reading.

This was a well acted and thought provoking film which should challenge anyone's opinion of the death penalty and the serious flaws in the justice system. It was quite a long film, but worth watching.

TRIAL BY FIRE (2019) is a powerful and moving film about the tragic case of Cameron Todd Willingham, who was sentenced to death in Texas for killing his three children despite scientific evidence and expert testimony that supported his claims of innocence. The film explores the controversial issue of capital punishment in America through Willingham's story and raises important questions about the fairness of the death penalty. TRIAL BY FIRE is sure to provoke discussion and debate and is recommended viewing for anyone interested in this critical issue.