George Ryan @ Sundance
In January 2003, Republican Governor George Ryan granted blanket clemency to all 167 people on death row in Illinois, commuting their sentences to life without parole. With astounding access to special clemency hearings, the death row prisoners, exonerated men and Governor Ryan himself, directors Katy Chevigny and Kirsten Johnson bring us directly into the emotional and legal storm surrounding Ryan’s extraordinary decision.
Deadline premiered at Sundance last week. The Chicago Tribue notes George Ryan's participation in the screenings of the film:
The Sundance Film Festival may be flush with charismatic yet troubled movie heroes, but only one is a gruff 69-year-old Republican Illinois ex-governor under federal indictment.
Yes, George Ryan is doing Sundance.
Ryan, who appeared at events Friday and Sunday, is the lead character/star of "Deadline," one of 16 feature-length documentaries in competition at this pre-eminent festival for American independent film. Directed by Katy Chevigny and Kirsten Johnson, the movie chronicles the three months from the ex-governor's call for a death penalty moratorium to his declaration of blanket clemency for 167 Death Row inmates just days before he left office last January.
(u/p: rwalks/rwalks)
Comments
Also at Yahoo: Ex-Ill. Gov. Plugs Death-Row Documentary
Posted by: david | January 21, 2004 3:57 PM
The Filmmakers, at WireImage.
Posted by: david | January 21, 2004 4:31 PM
Black Filmmakers Featured at Sundance (Orlando Sentinel, AP).
Posted by: david | January 21, 2004 4:34 PM
I luv how Ryan has turned this into his legacy. He fought on the wrong side for *years*. Thank god he did something good in the end.
While we're on the subject of the dp, Free Kevin Cooper. Pass the word.
We only have three weeks to help save an innocent man.
Posted by: zagg | January 22, 2004 12:25 AM