Christine (2016)

The story of Christine Chubbuck, a 1970s TV reporter struggling with depression and professional frustrations as she tries to advance her career.

Director:

Antonio Campos

Writer:

Craig Shilowich

Stars:

Rebecca Hall, Michael C. Hall, Tracy Letts

5 wins & 21 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rebecca Hall	...	Christine
Michael C. Hall	...	George
Tracy Letts	...	Michael
Maria Dizzia	...	Jean
J. Smith-Cameron	...	Peg
Timothy Simons	...	Steve (as Tim Simons)
Kim Shaw	...	Andrea
John Cullum	...	Bob Andersen
Morgan Spector	...	Doctor Parsons
Jayson Warner Smith	...	Mitch
Kimberley Drummond	...	Gail
Lindsay Ayliffe	...	Capt. Frank Basil
Susan Pourfar	...	Miranda
Rachel Hendrix	...	Crystal
David Foster	...	Bandaged Man

Storyline

The story of Christine Chubbuck, a 1970s TV reporter struggling with depression and professional frustrations as she tries to advance her career.

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Plot Keywords:

1970s | female reporter | television reporter | television journalist | female journalist | 

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Taglines:

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... Christine.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for a scene of disturbing violence and for language including some sexual references

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site [UK]

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 October 2016 (USA)

Also Known As:

Κριστίν

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$13,418, 16 October 2016, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$298,484, 6 January 2017

Company Credits

Production Co:

BorderLine Films, Fresh Jade

Technical Specs

Runtime:

119 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Throughout the film, Mike keeps insisting that everybody "learn the Akais". Akai (now defunct) was one of the pioneers in the transitions from film to video in the early 1970's. With film being so expensive it gave news stations the cheaper option of recording on video cameras and storing it on VHS and similar formats rather than film. The downside was that these formats were not built for longevity and as such, a lot of VHS material was lost and never archived properly. Christine's Akai indeed became a popular and convenient option throughout the 1970's and even up to the early 1990's in some news stations. The Akai company also manufactured VCRs, VHS/DVD player combos, camcorders and CRT television sets until its collapse in 2001. The company now belongs to Akai Sales Pte Ltd, headquartered in Singapore, and has shifted its focus largely to musical instruments.

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Goofs

At the end of the film, a character turns on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" - the theme song is playing and the lyrics say "you might just make it after all". This movie takes place in 1974. MTM Show ran from 1970-1977 - by 1974 they would have been using the theme song that goes "you're gonna make it after all".

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Quotes

Christine: Maybe you should film the chickens having SEX so we can see how the eggs are REALLY made!
[laughs nervously]
Christine: uh, I'm just joking, just joking...
Chicken Lady: [giggling] Ooh, I've seen it, and it ain't pretty!

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Crazy Credits

The credits don't roll, but are in still form.

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Connections

References All the President's Men (1976)

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Soundtracks

She Lets Her Hair Down (Early In The Morning)
Written by Leon Carr, Paul Vance
Performed by Bobby Sherman
Published by Music Sales Corp.
Courtesy of K-tel Music, Inc.

User Reviews

If it Bleeds, it Leads

If it bleeds, it leads. In response to such sentiment, reporter Christine Chubbuck committed suicide on live television on July 15, 1974, in Sarasota, Florida. This thoughtful, emotional and compelling film delves into Christine's character and likely motivations for taking her life just shy of her 30th birthday. Dreams of success in both her professional and personal life turned into a series of disappointments and troubles. Assigned to cover dull stories and turned down for promotions by the good ole boys club at her workplace that favored looser women, Christine also had health and family woes and a patronizing love interest. Awkward, often unapproachable and introverted, Christine was also intelligent, amiable, creative and kindhearted. She volunteered at a children's shelter where she presented short plays with puppets named Tangerine and Dragon. Her news ideas seemed brilliant and promising if they were just given the opportunity to succeed, yet none of this mattered in the network's drive for "juicier" and cheaper stories.

In this true story the ending is already known, yet the film is still suspenseful and fascinating. What is remarkable is that attitudes regarding the sensationalism of the news and the treatment of depression have not changed much since the 1970s. You'd think we might have learned something from this story if not from our own experiences since then. The story reminds us to "get to know the people around us," said the script writer after the showing at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival. Rebecca Hall is incredible in her portrayal of Christine. Christine's death is not overly dramatized. I liked the soundtrack that included a John Denver song.