Plain Truth (2004)

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Rated: TVPG

Reviewer: Rissi C.

Having become more interested in mystery stories of recent years, this small-budget film is by far one of the better I’ve seen. (In order for me to express and explore some of the film's themes, my personal thoughts on the film do reveal spoilers -- so read carefully.)

Life has become nothing more than looking ahead to winning her next big case for attorney Ellie Harrison (Mariska Hargitay). Her career has earned her acclaim for acquittals in her clients' favor through several white collar crime cases. Despite being a valued attorney at her firm, she decides to take time away and plans a relaxed time of travel and life. When an old, dear friend calls upon her expertise, Ellie backs away even as she discovers that it involves her a young woman accused of murdering her infant child…

Katie Finch (Allison Pill) is of the Amish faith, sheltered, and knows little of the world. Her small community is astounded by the infant found swaddled in cloth and floating in a body of water. Police have swarmed the Finch land looking for clues, which has put Katie’s parents (Jan Niklas, Kate Trotter) in an awkward place. Only days pass before the lead detective arrests Katie after an emergency hospital stay that reveals she was recently pregnant… even as Katie claims her innocence, arguing to have never been pregnant…

Some may be bothered by some of this story’s accusations, representations in the beliefs of its characters or acceptance of certain situations, and indeed some of it can be unsettling. For those who believe that a baby is a living, breathing human being from its moment of conception, you may be somewhat bothered by certain things that come about during the trial and ultimately in how the story ends… abortion is not an option but but there is the suspicion that the child was murdered in order to keep quiet an unwanted pregnancy that violated a faith -- a faith passionately instilled into Amish youth, a faith that implies there is little room for true forgiveness, a faith that doesn't allow for someone to brazenly abandon their beliefs lest they be ostracized by their elders. It’s interesting to hear the argument made that Katie couldn’t kill a child because of her faith; it’s not in their nature to be destructive when in fact the Finch family did live an emotionally problematic life. We eventually discover Katie's continuous string of lies in order to cover her shame and fear and be accepted into her Amish faith. She denies a pregnancy, claims rape, and lies about other events even as Ellie attempts to reach her, believing her to be only a confused teen who has lived a sheltered life. (Details of the labor and birth are described in court, but never in great detail.)

Obviously the Amish faith is strongly depicted whereas Ellie claims no religion, causing friction between herself and Aaron Finch. Apart from the potentially troubling thematic material, there is little woven into the story that would offend; the opening shot is of a body floating in water, and a brief flashback shows two teens making out. The film builds suspense and has surprisingly good writing. The actors give a realistic portrayal of their respective characters and veteran actress Mariska Hargitay especially turns out a marvelous characterization. Where the actors do an admirable job with their lines and ultimate performance, some of the procedures aren’t so realistic. For instance, some of the ways the police handle situations doesn’t jive with what common sense dictates would happen, although I do understand this was likely all for dramatic effect. Some may find this hardly worth it but there is something that begs its viewer to see the story through to its outcome. Because it’s a Lifetime production, it is a bit more of a challenge to find (my copy came from a now closed rental store and is a VHS!), I think, so long as you enjoy a good mystery every now and then, this is a keeper.

You are never really certain of the “real” story. What really happened that night? Are we even confident we know at the film’s close? There aren’t the usual chills that one imagines from say an Alfred Hitcock film but there is an unsettled feeling by the end. After two viewings, I was sure of my assumptions and conclusions but after a third, I’ve found myself questioning the accuracy of that… maybe it was a misinterpretation. By contradicting myself, I will say the end is “complete,” which goes from an innocent, happy moment to a chilling reality that leaves one slightly unsettled as Ellie wonders at the strange, warped ideas this outwardly tight-knit family shares.