The Life of David Gale,a super hit Movie from Human Rights perspective.

2. The Life of David Gale
Presented by:
Shivansh S. Shrivastava
2012ECS35

3. Directed by:
Alan parker
Written by:
Charles Randolph

4. Cast
Kevin Spacey
David Gale
Kate Winslet
Bitsey Bloom

5. Cast
Laura Linney
Constance Harraway
Matt Craven
Dusty Wright

6. Cast
Gabriel Mann
Zack Stemmons
Rhona Mitra
Berlin

7. Plot
David Gale,a Philosophy professor at University of Texas and
an activist of Deathwatch,the organisation against capital
punishment, is on a death row in Texas for raping a fellow
activist and brutally killing her.
Bitsey bloom,a young journalist in a major News magazine
known for her ability to keep secrets,was brought to Gale
for a one-on-one interview,three days prior to his
execution,on Gale’s demand.
Bloom was explained everything related to case by Gale in
three Flashbacks,except one fact which was intended to be
revealed after his execution so as to set an example of
execution of an innocent,thus prove a great help to
Deathwatch and achieve the result of Gale’s and
Constance’s life time work.

8. Storyline
» Bitsey Bloom was demanded for an interview with Gale in prison for
which she was initially denied by her boss as according to him,an interview
with such a person should be a job of a male journalist,but later on she
was allowed on a condition that Zack Stemmons will accompany her.
» As explained by Gale,He was a Philosophy professor at University of
Texas.Berlin,the graduation student,who was going to be expelled from
school,offers Gale anything in return if he gave her good grades,which he
accepted and in return asks her nothing but to study.
» In a graduation party,Gale encounters Berlin who was disappointed at
getting expelled from school.She corners and seduces Gale succeding in
getting him to have rough sex with her.She then falsely accuses Gale of
rape.
»Next day Gale loses a debate with Governor of Texas when he is unable to
point to an example of a demonstrably innocent man being executed
during that governor's term. After losing the debate Gale is arrested and
charged with rape. Gale is later acquitted of the charges, however the
damage has already been done, and his family, marriage, career and
reputation are all destroyed.

9. » Once again Deathwatch fails to stop the execution of an innocent and
this time a 17 years old girl.This was an addition to Gale’s problems
brought by the accusations,in his life.Constance is found suffering from
Leukemia which is known to her and Gale only.
» Constance Harraway consoles him after his life falls apart, and the pair
sleep together. However, the next day Harraway is discovered raped and
murdered, suffocated by a plastic bag taped over her head.
» Bitsey Blooms ,along with Zack Stemmons, investigates the case just to
find a tape showing Constance committing suicide. She and Wright,the
another Deathwatch activist,are both seen on the videotape, showing
that they framed Gale as part of a plan to discredit the death penalty.
» Bloom does not find this evidence until the day of Gale's scheduled
execution. She tries to give the tape to the authorities in time to stop the
execution. She arrives at the prison just as the warden announces that it
has already been carried out. The tape is then released, causing a media
and political uproar over the execution of an innocent man.
» Much later still, a videotape labeled "Off the Record" is delivered to
Bloom. This tape shows Gale was involved in plan to prove that innocents
are executed.

10. Human Rights Issues/Violations
» Differentiation on Gender basis.
Bitsey Bloom was not allowed to interview Gale in prison.
» Execution of innocents.
A number of innocents are executed in United States mostly
because they get ineligible lawyers,as stated by Gale in his debate
with Governor
» Execution of juveniles.
A 17 years old girl was executed.It was a great
disappointment to Deathwatch.

11. Relevant Articles
» UDHR- Articles 3,5,11
Right to life and liberty.
Freedom from torture or degrading treatment.
Right to be considered innocent before proven guilty.
» International covenants on civil and political rights-
Articles 6,7
No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life.
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or
degrading treatment or punishment.
» UN conventions on the rights of child
Prohibits death penalty to those below 18 at the time of crime
.
» In 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court declared in Roper v.
Simmons that death by execution is unconstitutional for
juveniles.

12. Extra Ordinary Scene

13. Observations and Conclusion.
» Death cant be reverted back.Even if death penalty is needed,it must
be carefully judged.
» Capital punishment should be the last punishment one should be
subjected to.
» Any accusations somewhere plays role in future trials.Criminal charges
against a person,even if proved wrong,harms his social and professional
life.
» A person even if acquitted of any criminal charge ,is not accepted by
society as innocent.He hardly manages to get rid of the agony and in
some cases he might prove threat to his own or others life.

14. Bibliography/Acknowledgement
» www.amnestyusa.org
» www.deathpenalty.org
» www.umn.edu
» www.eji.org

15. Questions/Queries/Suggestions??