A Killing in a Small Town

The film Evidence of Love (UK title) is contextualised within a small-town community. Within this community, their lives are prescriptive, mundane and conservative, (at least from a liberal perspective). This conservative attitude is highlighted in Evidence of Love as a destructive force as it restricts and represses natural human feelings all in the name of stability.Such conditions provide for an undercurrent of extra-marital affairs, lies, denial, and anger, culminating in a (self-defence) killing to emerge like an uncoiling spring.

As to the acting in Evidence of Love, it is a superb (some might argue stereotyped) portrayal of a mid-American suburban home - maker by Hershey. It seems that Hershey uses method acting to achieve her goal in this film. As for the directing, it comes across as very considered and intelligent. This is because the issue is handled without the histrionics that such an explosive subject matter has the potential to cause. Of course the calm direction is helped by the limited budget for the film.

The film itself exposes an interesting moot point of what is perceived as guilty. It seems in Evidence of Love that there is some confusion in the court as what constitutes 'murder'. Self defence using a gun is not considered murder, but an axe that is wielded 41 times to slay an attacker is a matter of contention is this particular murder charge.

For this moot point alone as to what constitutes self defence in a killing Evidence of Love is worth watching.