- When director Tommy O'Have initially talked about the film's collaboration with Catherine Keener, who would become the show's heinous child abuser Gertrude, on the beach in Venice, Catherine had the intention of turning it down.
- Catherine Keener said she was terrified to be as brutal as Gertrude. But the director asked her to think differently, and that was the real reason why they had to do it - never let this kind of child abuse happen again.
- Elliot Page , who was recommended to play the role of the abused child Sylvia , also felt a great panic when she first read the script. She said that her whole person was about to collapse, she couldn't believe it was all true, and she was facing the computer all night Reading the script the director gave her line by line, it felt like her heart was being torn apart.
- Because this case of child abuse at Gertrude Banizzewski's home is shocking. Catherine recalled how she understood the script and played the heroine who planned the child abuse case by herself. The play gets caught up in Gert's personality.
An American Crime behind the scenes gags
2022-01-28 08:20
Extended Reading
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Clay 2022-01-28 08:20:47
The event itself is extremely shocking. Catherine Keener's performance is really wonderful, but the narrative angle is very gentle. The display of the evil of human nature is weak, and it does not mention the impact on legislation.
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Retta 2022-03-19 09:01:10
So calm and self-dressing so well-deserved brutality, so direct and indifferent enough to personally participate in the connivance of evil, making such a film based on real events pale enough to leave only criticism, just like in the film. Like neighbors who don't care about them. This flower of evil is blooming too coquettishly, I can't tell if it's too real or too fake!
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Gertrude Baniszewski: [preparing to write the tattoo onto Sylvia's belly] Ricky... she came back from juvenile! Started stirring up trouble again... Johnny hold her!
Sylvia Likens: No, please, please!
Gertrude Baniszewski: Keep her still!
Marie Baniszewski: If you move, it'll only be messy.
Gertrude Baniszewski: [gives Marie a lighter and a safety pin] Light that.
Sylvia Likens: No! No! No! Please! No! No! Please! Please!
Gertrude Baniszewski: Stop it!
Shirley Baniszewski: You got it right, mama?
Gertrude Baniszewski: Make sure it's hot!
Sylvia Likens: I'm sorry! I'm sorry!
Gertrude Baniszewski: You liar!
Sylvia Likens: Please stop, please no! Please!
[Marie gives Gertrude the safety pin]
Gertrude Baniszewski: You branded my daughters... now I have to brand you.
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Gertrude Baniszewski: Who's in charge here?
Johnny Baniszewski: You are, mama.