Rebecca Hall (The Gift, The Awakening) stars in director Antonio Campos’ third feature film, Christine, the story of a woman who finds herself caught in the crosshairs of a spiraling personal life and career crisis. Christine, always the smartest person in the room at her local Sarasota, Florida news station, feels like she is destined for bigger things and is relentless in her pursuit of an on-air position in a larger market. As an aspiring newswoman with an eye for nuance and an interest in social justice, she finds herself constantly butting heads with her boss (Tracy Letts), who pushes for juicier stories that will drive up ratings. Plagued by self-doubt and a tumultuous home life, Christine’s diminishing hope begins to rise when an on-air co-worker (Michael C. Hall) initiates a friendship which ultimately becomes yet another unrequited love. Disillusioned as her world continues to close in on her, Christine takes a dark and surprising turn.
Based on the true and mysterious life of Christine Chubbuck, a Florida news reporter who on July 15, 1974, committed suicide during a live broadcast. After covering three national stories, followed by a report on a local shooting that happened at a local restaurant the day before. The segment footage jammed, and wouldn’t not run. Christine “shrugged it off”, looked into the camera and said, “In keeping with Channel 40’s policy of bringing you the latest in ‘blood and guts’, and in living color, you are going to see another first-attempted suicide”. She pulled out a revolver, shot herself behind her right ear. She fell forward. The broadcast faded to black.
Someday in the near future, we just may cover Christine’s full story on the podcast.
Directed by Antonio Campos (“Simon Killer,” “AfterSchool”). Written by Craig Shilowich. Produced by Shilowich & Melody C. Roscher (“The WonderClub”). Executive Produced by Sean Durkin & Josh Mond (Borderline Films) and Robert Halmi Jr. & Jim Reeve (Great Point Media).
