More Coverage of 'At the Death House Door'

At the Washington Post's On God blog, Claire Hoffman interviews Steve James, one of the filmmakers behind the documentary, "The Struggles of a Minister of Death."                

I had breakfast a few weeks ago with acclaimed documentary filmmaker Steve James whose work includes "Hoop Dreams" and one of my favorites, "Stevie". James and Peter Gilbert have a new film out, "At the Death House Door" that examines the journey of a Presbyterian minister Carroll Pickett who spent 15 years as chaplain at the infamous Huntsville, Texas, prison where he bore witness to 95 executions.

After each execution, Pickett recorded an audiotape account of that fateful day.  (Here's a review in the Chicago Tribune). The film sort of sneaks under your skin as it follows Pickett's struggles and transformation from a pro-death penalty preacher to a very isolated being trying to reconcile his faith and feelings to his role in these deaths.

It opens this week and actually there's a screening in D.C. tonight at 7 p.m. at the AFI Silver Theater with a discussion afterward with the filmmakers as well as Rev. Pickett so this is nicely if a bit belatedly timed. Check it out.

In North Carolina, the Raleigh News & Observer's Titan Barksdale reports, "Death penalty documentary drives pleas for more scrutiny."

Rep. Rick Glazier and others called on leaders across the country Wednesday to scrutinize the death penalty and its application to help prevent executing innocent inmates.

Glazier, a Cumberland Democrat, spoke in the legislative auditorium as part of a panel that included legal scholars, a filmmaker, a minister and a Chicago Tribune investigative journalist. The discussion stemmed from the national premiere of a documentary, "At the Death House Door."

The film, co-directed by Peter Gilbert and Steve James, is set in Texas and explores the effects of the death penalty on those closest to the process -- mainly the condemned inmates and a death row chaplain who was responsible for comforting them before the execution.

"Many victims are created when one man is put to death," Gilbert said.

Two themes quickly emerged during the discussion: the effect of race on criminal cases and wrongful convictions.

On Wednesday, Glazier wore a button encouraging people to "Support the Racial Justice Act." Co-sponsor for that legislation, he said that race can not be ignored as factor in convictions.

Carroll Picket's memoir, Within These Walls, is available under Books in the right-column.  Earlier coverage is in the documentary index.

I had breakfast a few weeks ago with acclaimed documentary filmmaker Steve James whose work includes "Hoop Dreams" and one of my favorites, "Stevie". James and Peter Gilbert have a new film out, "At the Death House Door" that examines the journey of a Presbyterian minister Carroll Pickett who spent 15 years as chaplain at the infamous Huntsville, Texas, prison where he bore witness to 95 executions.

After each execution, Pickett recorded an audiotape account of that fateful day.  (Here's a review in the Chicago Tribune). The film sort of sneaks under your skin as it follows Pickett's struggles and transformation from a pro-death penalty preacher to a very isolated being trying to reconcile his faith and feelings to his role in these deaths.

It opens this week and actually there's a screening in D.C. tonight at 7 p.m. at the AFI Silver Theater with a discussion afterward with the filmmakers as well as Rev. Pickett so this is nicely if a bit belatedly timed. Check it out.

In North Carolina, the Raleigh News & Observer's Titan Barksdale reports, "Death penalty documentary drives pleas for more scrutiny."

Rep. Rick Glazier and others called on leaders across the country Wednesday to scrutinize the death penalty and its application to help prevent executing innocent inmates.

Glazier, a Cumberland Democrat, spoke in the legislative auditorium as part of a panel that included legal scholars, a filmmaker, a minister and a Chicago Tribune investigative journalist. The discussion stemmed from the national premiere of a documentary, "At the Death House Door."

The film, co-directed by Peter Gilbert and Steve James, is set in Texas and explores the effects of the death penalty on those closest to the process -- mainly the condemned inmates and a death row chaplain who was responsible for comforting them before the execution.

"Many victims are created when one man is put to death," Gilbert said.

Two themes quickly emerged during the discussion: the effect of race on criminal cases and wrongful convictions.

On Wednesday, Glazier wore a button encouraging people to "Support the Racial Justice Act." Co-sponsor for that legislation, he said that race can not be ignored as factor in convictions.

Carroll Picket's memoir, Within These Walls, is available under Books in the right-column.  Earlier coverage is in the documentary index.