Every 9 Seconds
Directed byKenneth Fink
Written byAdam Greenman
StarringGail O'Grady
Amy Pietz
Christopher Meloni
CinematographyKen Kelsch
Edited byPaul Dixon
Distributed byNBC
Release date
October 12, 1997
Running time
96 minutes
CountryUS
LanguageEnglish

Every 9 Seconds is a 1997 television film directed by Kenneth Fink. It stars former NYPD Blue co-star, Gail O'Grady, Amy Pietz, and former Law & Order: Special Victims Unit star, Christopher Meloni. The film debuted on NBC on October 12, 1997 at 9/8c. It occasionally re-airs on Lifetime as well as its sister channel Lifetime Movie Network.

Background

The film's title refers to a statistic suggesting that in the United States, a woman is battered every nine seconds.[1] Its October release coincided with National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and NBC heavily promoted it as a means of bringing awareness to domestic violence and to the National Domestic Hot Line.[2]

Plot

Carrie Breiter (Amy Pietz) is a journalist who goes undercover as a crisis line worker. Her work connects her with Janet (O'Grady), an abused woman who calls the hotline trying to proclaim revenge against her abusive ex-husband, Richard (Christopher Meloni), and Missy, a teen who declines help from the crisis center and is attacked not long after by her abusive boyfriend. Richard, who had been jailed for domestic abuse, is released early and shows up at Janet's house, menacing her. Breiter, against colleagues' advice, determines to intervene and save Janet.

Cast

Critical reception

The film received mixed reviews. The Los Angeles Times called the plot "absurdly formulaic" and argued that the film cheapened its subject of domestic violence.[1] The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, although also finding the film familiar and exploitative, wrote: "If it encourages women in an abusive relationship to seek help, or get out, it's certainly worth network air time."[3] New York magazine praised the "first-rate performances" by its cast, particularly Christopher Meloni.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 Miller, Daryl H (11 October 1997). "Important Topics, Formulaic Approaches". Los Angeles Times.
  2. Saunders, Dusty (12 October 1997). "Abuse Film More Potboiler Than PSA". Rocky Mountain News.
  3. Pennington, Gail (12 October 1997). "George Eliot's 'Mill': A Murky Tale". St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
  4. Leonard, John (13 October 1997). "John Leonard's Television Notes". New York Magazine. Retrieved 23 May 2023.


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