A Time to Kill
dir. Joel Schumacher · 1996
Plot
When Tonya Hailey, an innocent little African-American girl is raped and beaten by 2 beer-guzzling rednecks, the town of Clanton, Mississippi is shocked. Her father Carl Lee Hailey is outraged, and figuring he could not see those boys set free, decides to take justice into his own hands and kills them in the court house, in front of numerous witnesses. Now it's up to Jake Brigance to get Carl Lee off the hook. He has people that help him, but he is up against tough D.A. Rufus Buckley. Will he be able to prove that a black man can get a fair trial in Mississippi?
Why watch
"A Time to Kill" is a gripping exploration of vigilante justice set against the backdrop of a racially charged Southern town, where the quest for fairness collides with deep-seated prejudice. This film challenges viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about morality, justice, and the human condition.