Unforgivable (1996) (TV)

Director:

Graeme Campbell

Writers:

Adam Rodman (story)
Adam Rodman (teleplay) ...

Release Date:

30 April 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

John Ritter plays a family man who puts his wife through domestic violence and his children through emotional torture...

Plot Keywords:

Anger Therapy | Automobile Salesman | Domestic Violence | Fear | Group Therapy

Cast

John Ritter	...	Paul Hegstrom
Harley Jane Kozak	...	Judy Hegstrom
Kevin Dunn	...	Milton 'Milt' Stella
Susan Gibney	...	Beth French
Gina Philips	...	Tammy (as Gina Phillips)
Mariangela Pino	...	Helen Jessup, M.D.
Aaron Leigh	...	Jeff Hegstrom
Elisabeth Lund	...	Heidi Hegstrom
James McDaniel	...	Spider
Steven Anderson	...	Doctor
Doug Caputo	...	Steve
Michael Flynn	...	Ben Corbin
Carmen Fournier	...	Patrolman #2
Frank Gerrish	...	Dave
Curley Green	...	Group Member #1

Runtime:

Argentina:95 min | USA:120 min (including commercials)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M | Argentina:13 | UK:15 (video premiere)

Company:

Brayton-Carlucci Productions

Quotes:

Paul Hegstrom: Jeff, I never meant to hurt you.
Jeff Hegstrom: No! You meant to hurt mom!

Victim Culture ?

John Ritter plays a car salesman ! Don`t know about the States but over here in the UK car salesmen are treated as a bit of a joke so a TVM starring a TV sitcom actor as a car salesman has got to be a comedy right ? No . UNFORGIVABLE is about a car salesman who likes to beat up women

To be honest Ritter doesn`t make a very good job of playing Paul Hegstrom but he`s not helped by the way the character is written . In most of these types of domestic abuse stories the character should have a large amount of juxtaposition - cruel to his wife and family but charming to customers and work colleagues . But UNFORGIVABLE shows Hegstrom to be an abrasive bad tempered jerk to everyone and the viewer will be surprised as to why on earth anyone would want to go for an after work drink with him.

But the main problem I have this TVM is that it comes close to painting Hegstrom as a victim too . As a child young Paul saw his father beat his mother and UNFORGIVABLE insinuates that this is the root core of his violence . Can anyone give me scientific proof that this is the case ? Likewise can anyone offer clear evidence that group therapy will break a cycle of violence ? It`s a bit like saying the Middle East conflict can be solved by world leaders attending a meeting three times a week where they can all shout at each other