>> REVIEW
PIERREPOINT
DIRECTED BY Adrian Shergold
STARRING Timothy Spall, Juliet Stevenson and Eddie Marsan
Pierrepoint, originally released in the U.K. as The Last Hangman, is the true story of one of the most prolific hangmen in England’s history. The movie’s closing credits claim that Albert Pierrepoint hanged over 600 criminals in his 22 years of service, though that number is rarely consistent in any two historical accounts. His reputation as the most efficient and humane executioner in England is at first a source of pride, but the film depicts Pierrepoint’s struggle as the public perception of capital punishment changes, and the morality of his livelihood begins to weigh on him.
When the film begins, Pierrepoint (portrayed deftly by Timothy Spall) is just beginning his career, but quickly becomes highly regarded for his workmanlike approach to his hangings. Showing little emotion for the people he hangs, Pierrepoint is more concerned with personal statistics like the average time each execution takes, once running a man from his cell to the gallows in order to hang him in less than 10 seconds.
The proudest moment in Pierrepoint’s career comes when he is summoned to Germany to execute several convicted Nazis, for which he is welcomed home as a hero.
Soon after, though, groups of British citizens began to protest the death penalty, and Pierrepoint finds himself at the centre of the protests thanks to his newfound fame. Continuing as executioner for quite some time after the controversy begins, Spall shows with subtle changes in his facial expression the transformation Pierrepoint underwent towards the end of his career. He executes people with wide eyes and shaky hands, a sudden lack of confidence communicated through Spall’s unique ability to translate his emotions into body language.
A few creative interpretations are made with Pierrepoint’s story, most notably the speculative reason given for his resignation in 1956, but aside from that, director Adrian Shergold delivers the film perfectly. It is not a soapbox on the morality of the death penalty in general, but the story of one man’s struggle with his own personal beliefs. Still, through its superb acting and direction, Pierrepoint is sure to drum up plenty of discussion about punishment practices in many countries around the world. |
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