Shot in the Heart

A condemned murderer who begs for mercy and does everything to postpone his execution? Certainly not in the world of Agnieszka Holland. Gary Gilmore, the main character of Shot in the Heart, does just the opposite and fights to be executed as soon as possible. His surprising attitude made him a pop culture icon, protagonist of Norman Mailer's novel and theme of a song by the punk group The Adverts. Holland's film cuts ties to any prior narratives about Gilmore in favor of her own unexpected perspective. The Polish director is most interested in Gary's relationship with his brothers, who come to prison to persuade him to seek a lighter sentence. A series of intense, sparkling conversations take an unexpected turn and prompt the men to break the silence about the Gilmore family's dark secrets. Analyzing their impact on Gary's fate, Holland is by no means trying to justify a murderer. As in several older films, however, she argues that evil is rarely demonic, and its sources stem from everyday negligence, silence and abuse.