Changeling

Changeling is an American drama film directed by Clint Eastwood and written by J. Michael Straczynski. It’s based on real-life events in the 20s in Los Angeles and the facts were:

In 1926, 13-year-old Sanford Clark was kidnapped in Saskatchewan (Canada) by his uncle, Gordon Stewart Northcott. Northcott took Clark to a ranch in Wineville, California; he beat and abused the boy. The police took Clark into custody when a family member informed them of the situation. Clark revealed that he was forced to help Northcott and his mother in killing three young boys after Northcott had kidnapped and molested them. The police didn’t find any bodies at the ranch; Clark said they were dumped in the desert but discovered body parts, blood-stained axes, and personal effects belonging to missing children. The Northcotts fled to Canada, but were arrested and extradited to the United States. Northcott’s mother initially confessed the murders, including that of Walter Collins. She later retracted her statement; Gordon, who had confessed to killing five boys, did the same as her.

Meanwhile, Clark’s mother was sent to a mental health hospital by the police because of her claims. After Christine Collins was released from Los Angeles County Hospital, she sued the police department twice, winning the second lawsuit. The policemen involved in the case were invited to leave their posts, but they were reinstated. Northcott was convicted of the murders of some boys, but after his conviction, he admitted up to 20 murders, though he later denied it. Northcott was executed by hanging in 1930.

My personal belief about this film is that we are unsafe even if we have an institution as the Police Department or the Court. They are supposed to protect you and fight against the bad, but due to corruption it’s not that way. However, it’s not only corruption. We can see it a hundred years ago or even nowadays. For instance, a man was sent to prison in Italy due to a mistake by the police. Sometimes they try to “protect” us without enough evidences about the case and they usually fail.