Cathleen Falsani writes, "The Most Spiritually Film You'll See This Year," about the IFC-produced documentary, At the Death House Door. Thanks to the always observant Scott Taylor for forwarding this.
Some conversions take a lifetime.
For the Rev. Carroll "Bud" Pickett, it took 95.
Pickett, a Presbyterian minister, was the death house chaplain at the state penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas, where, from 1982 to 1995, he accompanied 95 inmates to their executions.
"Even to this day, I don't understand how I got where I am," Pickett says in the first moments "At the Death House Door," a feature-length documentary that premiered at the South By Southwest Film festival in Austin, Texas in March. "I never intended to do 95. In fact, I never intended to do one. But it happened."
"At the Death House Door," directed by Chicago filmmakers Steven James and Peter Gilbert (part of the team that made 1994's award-winning "Hoop Dreams"), tells Pickett's journey from staunch death-penalty supporter to passionate advocate against capital punishment.
At the Death House Door airs Thursday, May 29 on (cable channel) IFC at 9 p.m. (EDT), 8 p.m. (CDT.)
Coverage of a special hearing held at the Texas State Capitol in connection with the documentary is here. The documentary index includes a number of posts about the film.
Carroll Pickett's memoir Within These Walls is available in the right-column Books section.
TCADP is hosting a series of Texas screenings. More information is here.
May 6 at 7 pm
Austin
First Unitarian Universalist Church, Howson Hall
4700 Grover AveMay 8 at 7 pm
Austin - Cedar Park
Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Church
3315 El Salido Parkway, Cedar ParkMay 9 at 7 pm
Wimberley
Wimberley Community Center, RR 12 and River RoadMay 9 at 7 pm
Houston
Rice University Media CenterMay 13 at 6:30 pm
Austin
St. Austin's Catholic Church, Hecker Hall
2026 GuadalupeMay 16 at 7 pm
Austin
Friends Meeting of Austin
3701 E Martin Luther King
Comments