The Crossing Guard

Screenwriter and director Sean Penn's drama centres on such heavy themes as guilt and grief. Five years ago Freddy's and Mary's little daughter was killed by a drunken driver, John Booth. By the time Booth is released from prison, Mary is getting on with her life. She has divorced Freddy, who has lost hold on himself. He drinks heavily and what is more, he has become obsessed with revenging himself on Booth. Freddy is not aware that Booth is weighed so much down by his guilt that he tends to agree with Freddy: does he deserve to live?

It takes courage to make a film with such serious subject matters. Sean Penn is both courageous and talented, but unfortunately the film is simply too unfocused to really hit the mark and engage viewers. Especially the last sequence was hard to get through.