On January 22, 2014, I saw four documentaries at Sundance. But only one was undeniably magnificent, and it's aptly titled Captivated: The Trials of Pamela Smart.
Director Jeremiah Zagar takes us back to the early nineties to explore the first televised trial in American history. Pamela Smart's life went upside down after she was convicted for conspiring the death of her husband.
The film examines the media's heavy presence during the case and whether that played a role in Pamela not getting a fair trial. The film's dazzling presentation of seemingly reliable and unreliable interviews hooks the viewer in a way the original trial did to this nation.
While it's a remarkably crafted piece from start to finish and invokes an aura of intrigue like the film Paradise Lost, the second half loses some momentum. However, it picks up strongly in its last third where it ultimately leaves you in a whirlwind of emotions, wrestling over "but", "how", and "wow".
