The Burial (of feelings)
Recently I watched the movie ‘The burial’ in Amazon Prime. It is based on true story of a person called Jeremiah (Jerry) O’Keefe who owned burial homes. The movie is about the proceedings of the lawsuit Jerry filed against a corporation called Lowen companies for violation of contract and wrongful business practices, Jerry’s refusal to compromise and how truth triumphed at the end. Since I like court room dramas (in both books and movies) to a great extent, I got really hooked in to the movie since the portrayal was very real. Actors Jamie Foxx (playing Attorney Willie E Gary) and Tommy Jones ( playing Jerry, the protagonist) did justice to their roles. I was able to connect with the pain of Jerry at many levels since I have been through several court room battles myself and can understand how painful they are.
Usually court rooms become a battle ground for lawyers and litigants both. Attorneys sometimes take it too professionally without any emotional regard but for litigants the stakes are very high and carry a lot of sentimental weight. In the movie, even though attorney Willie E Gary was more attracted to money and fame in the beginning, he slowly starts to connect at a personal level with Jerry, once he understands his emotions.
Jerry is hurt by all the ugly tactics by opposition including how Defence attorney Mame Downes (played by Jurnee Smollet) paints him in distasteful manner. In truth, he is a decorated veteran and was mayor of the city twice. It shows the extent people would go to show the opposition in negative light unfairly. At the same time, I liked how movie didn’t attempt to overly glorify Jerry and fairly depicts his share of wrongdoings.
The movie shows how truth can never be buried and justice will be served, even if people attempt to manipulate and assassinate the character of whom they oppose. I also like the pinch of poetic justice at the end. Despite being lured by the opposition team’s Ray Lowen (Canadian Billionaire) who negotiates when he realizes he can’t succeed, humble Jerry with 3 mortgages on his home and struggles to pay his utility bills turns down the generous $75 million offer. He refuses it since he strongly believes that he is right and doesn’t want truth to be compromised at whatever price. I liked the way he walks with his head high while walking out of the negotiation. Finally Jerry wins the lawsuit with $500 million in compensation and Lowen companies files for bankruptcy.
The movie does justice to the title ‘The burial’. America has buried the unfairness of African Americans’ slavery for several centuries. It is not an easy task to bring justice to what they went through for so long. However this movie is an attempt to showcase some of the effort and giving hope that truth alone triumphs.
In summary,
- Emotions can be stirred up in court room but justice doesn’t rely on emotions.
- When truth is on one’s side, the person should staunchly trust that money and various tantrums can’t sway the justice.
- Truth can’t be buried forever.
