An American Crime

An American Crime is a 2007 American crimedrama film starring Ellen Page and Catherine Keener. The film is based on the true story of the torture and murder of Sylvia Likens by Indianapolis housewife Gertrude Baniszewski. It premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival.

An American Crime alternates between the 1966 trial of Gertrude Baniszewski Catherine Keener, and lengthy flashbacks to the events of the previous year described by the witnesses.Sixteenyearold Sylvia Likens Ellen Page and her 15yearold sister, Jenny Hayley McFarland, have, in the past, travelled with their parents who work on the carnival circuit. She and Jenny now live with their mother, Betty Likens Romy Rosemont, who recently separated from their father, Lester Likens Nick Searcy. Betty reconciles with him, and they decide to go on tour together. They agree to leave their daughters in the care of a single mother named Gertrude Baniszewski, whose daughters the Likens girls met in church. In dire financial straits, Gertrude offers to care for their daughters for twenty dollars a week, and as their parents leave, the girls settle in with Baniszewskis six children Paula 17, Stephanie 16, Johnny 13, Marie 12, Shirley 10, and infant son Kenny. Sylvia befriends Paula Ari Graynor, who confesses to Sylvia that she is pregnant by her married boyfriendSylvia swears not to tell. Soon after the girls arrival, Gertrude is upset that Lesters weekly payment is late and punishes the girls by whipping them with a belt. The payment, along with a letter from the parents, arrives shortly thereafter, but Gertrude throws the letter in the trash and says nothing to the Likens girls. ........

Source: Wikipedia