Paradise Lost - One And Two (1996) DVD

Paradise Lost - One And Two

Two features. 'Paradise Lost' explores the infamous child murders at Robin Hood Hills, and the sensational case which led to the arrest of three teenagers. 'Revelations: Paradise Lost 2' re-examines the evidence of the case, and suggests a switch of focus away from the three young men imprisoned.

Starring	Joe Berlinger, Bruce Sinofsky
Director	Joe Berlinger, Bruce Sinofsky
Studio	WARP VISION
Run time	DVD: 4 hrs 40 mins
Certificate
Genres	Documentary
Language	English
Released	DVD: 03 Mar 2006 Production year: 1996
Format	DVD

Paradise Lost - One And Two (2 discs) (1996)

Sign up Paradise Lost - One And Two DVD

Or you can rent each disc individually:

DVD

Sign up Paradise Lost - The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills
Sign up Paradise Lost 2 - Revelations

Most helpful member's review of Paradise Lost - One And Two
View all
18 out of 18 people found this review helpful

[Highly rated reviewer]

Paradise Lost 1 + 2

I read about the West Memphis 3 about five years ago. Immediately I was enraged. How in the name of all that is good and holy could a man be on death row on 'evidence' such as this? It's taken a long time for the celebrated documentaries about the case to make their way to UK DVD and so I'm very pleased to have finally seen them.

Taken together these two films add up to an exhaustive 4 hour and 40 minute document of one of the most egregious miscarriages of justice you can imagine. Filmmakers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky began the first film thinking they were on their way to West Memphis to make a simple film about a murder trial. They had assumed that the film would be one about three guilty murderers and the process of law around them and the impact of the crime and trial on the community.

What they came out with is much more disturbing and much more interesting. The court cases are laid out in Paradise Lost in admirably even handed fashion. Berlinger and Sinofsky make sure that they sure the prosecution scoring points just as much as they do the defence, they leave it to you to act as jury.

At the centre of the film are two extraordinary characters. Damien Echols the 18 year old 'ringleader' of the WM3 is his own worst enemy; vain, depressed and very open about his interest in the wiccan religion he seems not to take his predicament very seriously. Echols and his co-defendant (baby faced 16 year old Baldwin) never bang the table, never scream their innocence, it's as if they are stunned into silence by what is taking place.

John Mark Byers, the stepfather of Christopher Byers (one of the the three eight year old boys of whose murder Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley are accused of) is perhaps the film's most memorable character. He's a bundle of contradictions, a respected lay preacher, yet a violent man he and his wife Melissa are the most vengeful of the parents. Byers also acts in ways that bring him under suspicion of these crimes (giving the filmmakers a bloodstained hunting knife for Christmas), a fact adressed more overtly in the second film.

Structured like a thriller with plot revelations unfolding at regular intervals Paradise Lost would be a masterpiece if it were fiction. As documentary it's an astonishing piece of work; involving, important and deeply, depply sad.

Revelations: Paradise Lost 2 is a less even handed film. With Damien Echols now on death row (where, sadly, he remains) it concerns itself with an early appeal in his process. Also participating this time are members of the Free the West Memphis 3 group and John Mark Byers returns (the only member of the victim families to do so).

Much of the film centers on Byers. Since Paradise Lost rumours have swirled round him that he may have been involved in the killings and even if he was not tis film presents a man who needs to be asked to prove that beyond reasonable doubt given the many and varying stories he's spun around the circumstances of the killings.

Echols is much different in this film. More mature at 24 he's obviously intelligent and seems a very settled and sedate person, particularly given his circumstances.

There were no cameras in the courtrooms this time but that's not to say that Berlinger and Sinofsky come up short of indelible moments. A webchat between Damien and WM3 supporters is a highlight, as is a desperately sad phone call between Damien and his Mother.

The images people will take away, however, are of Byers. Byers standing in flames as he burns makeshift 'graves' of Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley. Byers saying 'I knew I was innocent' as he passes (while on heavy medication) a lie detector test.

Neither Paradise Lost film offers answers, hell neither even offers hope. These films are bleak, distressing, sick making viewing, and you you need to see them. People need to know about this case, need to get angry about it before it's too late for Damien Echols.
- - SAI81 from Tonbridge
  - Posted 28 Feb 2007 18:35
Most recent members' review of Paradise Lost - One And Two
View all
10 out of 13 people found this review helpful

[Highly rated reviewer]

Very Important Documentary

This tragic story has to be seen, the injustice involved gives a disturbing insight into the American legal system and the narrow mindedness of a bible belt community in middle America. What happened to these three victims is shocking but they too have been delt a massive injustice due to a fearful and ignorant jury swayed by a prosecution convicting three innocent boys whose only 'crime' was sticking out from the crowd. It's a frustrating and heart breaking watch but everyone needs to be aware of this situation which could still result in an innocent mans death.
- - add from EXETER
  - Posted 16 May 2007 11:19
More like this
View all
Showing 1 to 4 of 20

[+] [-]
Previous
Metal - A Headbanger's Journey

Sign up

Buy

Capturing The Friedmans

Sign up

Buy

New York Doll - The Story Of Arthur 'Killer' Kane

Sign up

Buy

Black Gold

Sign up

Buy
Next