Aileen: Selling a Serial KillerThis film, and Broomfield's follow up, should be viewed by anyone who wants to reexamine their feelings about capital punishment. Wurous is abused by everyone, obviously at least half mad, and in a state of terror at being incarcerated. A ghoulish group of hanger ons try to exploit her at every turn (interestingly, the lawyer is given a questionable reprieve in the sequel) and even grease her path to the electric chair. The system to takes a crack at exploiting her "fame."
Some dismiss Broomfield's work as egocentric and cheap shot ridden; I find it honest and actually quite compassionate. I think he was derided for presenting an unflattering portrait of the then in vogue Courtney Love. Well, looks like he was right on that one too.
This is, I think, his strongest film. But see the sequel too; one the grim jokes turn themselves inside out.
