Two weeks ago, when Oscar voters announced this year’s nominees, I realized I had homework to do. Despite having watched thirty-something documentaries in the last year, I had only seen one of the five films nominated for Best Documentary Feature. I never liked homework when I was a student, but in this instance I’m actually grateful for it. Were it not for this self-imposed task of bringing myself up to speed, I might not have caught up with one of the very best documentaries of the year.

PARADISE LOST 3: PURGATORY continues to tell the tale of The West Memphis 3. In 1994, three children were killed in West Memphis, Arkansas. The police investigation that followed pinned the crime on three teenagers named Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley, and Jason Baldwin. The three boys were convicted of the crime and sentenced to jail, with Damien specifically sentenced to death. There’s only one problem – much of the case built against them didn’t add up. Many have been publicly professing their innocence ever since.

What PARADISE LOST 3 does surprisingly well, is bring its viewers up to speed while weaving in new material at the same time. The film is constantly flipping back to details covered in both earlier films (PARADISE LOST and PARADISE LOST 2: REVELATION), but does so in a way that allows first-time viewers to keep up and learn about this astonishing case. The doc wants you to get all the facts and understand how things have gone so very wrong, and if that means taking a step or two back instead of barreling ahead with only new information, it is happy to take that time.

What’s wonderful about this format is that it allows the viewer to see the change in attitude and perspective from all involved. The weariness that some feel about what is happening is palpable; so is the regret. The change in attitude is on full display, and the pressure to do the right thing becomes clear.

It couldn’t have been easy to pull this off within a doc – especially one that is the third in a trilogy. However, thanks to some truly wonderful editing. PARADISE LOST 3 lays the pages on the table with ease. It shows us that some people are worth fighting for, and that we mustn’t always be in a hurry to pin the blame. I don’t recall reading anywhere that “The scapegoat shall set you free”. Obviously, most convicted killers will tell you they didn’t do it, and many of them are lying. However, we owe it to ourselves and to the memory of those who were taken to keep our brains open to facts. The sad truth is that every once in a while someone innocent will have been convicted, while the guilty are allowed to walk free.

The legacy of this film, and of the previous two, is that they were able to directly influence life events (If you don’t know how by now, I won’t tell you). That is the power of great documentary filmmaking, and what makes it such an important medium. It takes what is happening in our world and stands it behind a very big microphone. Great documentaries have changed our attitudes towards how we treat the planet, what food we decide to consume, and our collective conscience towards people we believe to be guilty. When it’s done right, a documentary can be one of the greatest outlets for truth that we have. Few documentaries understand that as well as PARADISE LOST 3.

PARADISE LOST 3: PURGATORY is currently airing on HBO and HBO Canada. Check local listings for air times.

12 Replies to “PARADISE LOST 3: PURGATORY”

  1. Certainly a great doc. The case and everything surrounding it is so damn interesting I’m sure it would be hard to not lure people in but I agree with what you said, that the film does a fantastic job of laying out the facts and taking time with viewer. I have heard a lot of good buzz surrounding the Peter Jackson produced doc that premiered at Sundance this year called West of Memphis. Have you heard about it at all or have any interest in checking it out?

    2. Welcome back to The matinee Lindsay, haven’t seen you around these parts in a while!

      I was a little worried that by going into this film without seeing the previous chapters I would be at a big disadvantage. Happily, much like the 7 UP series, there’s some wonderfully executed hand-holding for newbies like myself. What’s awesome is the way all of that looking back underlines the new information.

      I *am* interested in checking out WEST OF MEMPHIS, but have to give this series of docs the credit for doing what they were able to do, and likewise doing it first.

  2. This subject is picking up a lot of buzz lately. Apart from the Peter Jackson documentary mentioned above, I have heard couple of movies related to it, one by Atom Egoyan and other has Johnny Depp connected to it somehow. Might be worth checking it out and you certainly seem to recommend it as well.

    1. Again, this film deserves more credit than the Peter Jackson-produced doc for the way it was able to influence public opinion as the events were unfolding.

      As for any fictitious versions, I’d certainly love to see what someone like Atom Egoyan could do with a story like this! (I know, I’m a homer)

  4. Haven’t seen the third Paradise Lost film yet but I’ve been looking forward to this for quite some time. I thought the first two were great, even though they drained and depressed me. I’m glad these movies were finally able to make a difference.

  5. I actually saw the premiere of this film at TIFF and I liked it so much that I actually named it my favourite film of the festival (proof of my growing love of documentaries).

    I am curious to see the film again and see the extended ending about the West Memphis Three’s release (there was no time to finish that ending in time for the TIFF screening – there was only an intertitle mentioning the release)

    1. Didn’t this play at Lightbox this fall with the new ending? Or am I remembering wrong…

      Like you, Lindsay saw it at TIFF at the suggestion of her sister, and while it wasn’t her favorite of the whole festival it was certainly high up the list for her.

      Hopefully you can catch up with it on DVD soon!

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