The True Story Collection

Description

Collection of feature films based on true stories. Bittersweet comedy drama ‘Death Falls’ (1991) tells the story of a terminally ill man, Halstead Johnson (Roberts Blossom), who causes havoc when he enlists the help of his friend, Dub Farley (Rip Torn), to break him out of hospital and help him live out his final wish. Suspicious of their motives, a city policeman trails them to the mountains surrounding their hometown. Meanwhile, their friend, Mae Baxter (Beverly Garland), and the local sheriff strive to track down the fugitives before the less compassionate posse – which includes a deranged, rifle-toting revenge seeker – put paid once and for all to the dying man’s dreams. Political war drama ‘Children of Rage’ (1975) follows the lives of both Israelis and Palestinians caught up in the bloody conflict in the Middle East in the 1970s. When Palestinian guerrilla Omar (Richard Alfieri) is wounded while disguised as an Israeli, he is treated by David (Helmut Griem), an Israeli doctor and friend of the family. David’s conscience persuades him to go to the camp to help alleviate the suffering – but the resistance he encounters from some of the militants leads to a tragic end for both himself and Omar. In ‘Walking Across Egypt’ (1999) juvenile delinquent Wesley (Jonathan Taylor Thomas) becomes determined to get out of trouble for good, following another stint of punishment. Mattie (Ellen Burstyn) is a lonely widow who spends all her time in the local church and spoiling her kids. When their paths cross Mattie sees some good in Wesley and takes him in to her home, hoping he will understand what is going wrong in his life. The law is catching up with Wesley, however, and he is forced to make a choice which will either give him a new life or lead him back to square one. Drama ‘Anatomy of an Illness’ (1984) follows the story of a man who discovers laughter as a cure for his illness. When successful New York editor Norman Cousins (Edward Asner) succumbs to a degenerative spinal illness, he refuses to accept medical opinion that he will spend his future life in a vegetative state. Taking matters into his own hands, Norman prescribes himself a regime of his most potent weapons – a positive attitude, lots of laughter, the support of his caring wife, and a refusal to submit. Hard-hitting drama ‘Hustling’ (1975) stars Lee Remick as investigative reporter Fran Morrison. When she is given an assignment to infiltrate the secret world of prostitution in New York and expose the people behind it, Fran’s investigation leads to a friendship with prostitute Wanda (Jill Clayburgh), who offers a clear insight into life on the streets. Fran soon discovers that some of the city’s richest and most powerful families benefit directly from prostitution, and the report she produces causes a storm of controversy when it is published in a national magazine. Emotional family drama ‘Silence of the Heart’ (1984) follows the aftermath of the tragic death of 17-year old Skip Lewis (Chad Lowe) as a result of a car crash. As the facts of the crash come to light, the indications are that Skip deliberately killed himself. His mother (Mariette Hartley), father (Howard Hesseman) and sister (Dana Hill) refuse to believe in the suicide theory. As the story progresses, however, Skip’s best friend, Ken (Charlie Sheen), becomes tormented by the thought that perhaps he could have prevented the awful tragedy.