AILEEN WUORNOS: THE SELLING OF A SERIAL KILLER

USA, United Kingdom – 1992 – Color - 93’

Dir.- Scr.: Nick Broomfield | Cin.: Barry Ackroyd | Ed.: Richard M. Lewis | Mus.: David Bergeaud | Prod.: Riete Oord

The prostitute Aileen Wuornos is considered the first female serial killer: she murdered seven clients. The documentary captures Broomfield’s efforts to interview her, through the mediation of her lawyer and the woman who had taken her under her protection. At the same time, it reveals how those close to her tried to "sell" her story for personal gain, raises questions about official corruption, and whether she was truly a serial killer.

The documentary was presented by the defense at Wuornos’s 2001 trial, in order to demonstrate the incompetence of her original lawyer. Broomfield’s involvement led him to the creation of a second, equally powerful film («Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer»). Wuornos was executed on 10/9/2002 in Florida.

Charlize Theron based her performance in «Monster» (2003) on this very documentary -a role that earned her an Oscar.