John Sayles' epic, multi-layered film Lone Star stars Chris Cooper as Sam Deeds, a sheriff exploring his dead father's murky past against a background of racial tension in a Tex-Mex border town. Determined to debunk the reverence surrounding his father, he begins to investigate the discovery of the bones and badge of a corrupt and dangerous sheriff, Charley Wade (Kris Kristofferson), who has long since disappeared.
This is no mere murder mystery, however, as John Sayles' narrative juggles with several stories at the same time, using flashbacks of events of the past to drive the plot forward in the present day. Sam Deeds' determination to find his father guilty of Charley Wade's death is motivated by their hostile relationship, which developed during his childhood, and particularly his father's intervention between himself and his childhood sweetheart, Pilar Cruz, played by Elizabeth Peña.
"People's lives are more connected than they imagine," says producer Maggie Renzi. "Our history is part of us. We do not just exist in the present, but our past influences what we do and the way we think. The message of the film is to choose what you want to be, as Pilar does when she questions 'Am I a Mexican, or am I a Texan?' Ultimately, the choice is hers."
According to Renzi, Kris Kristofferson's portrayal of Charley Wade is a revelation: "The character is genuinely evil, but also very smart. His intelligence informs his cruelty. Kris was perfect because he himself is very intelligent and his face fitted the role exactly… And not only that, it seemed right for a legend to play a legend."
With an investment from Castle Rock of US$5 million, "this film is not strictly Hollywood," says Renzi. "What we're looking for is an expanded art-house audience, and the independent moviemakers have proved that there is an audience which wants to see good movies." Geoff Smith
Prod Co: Castle Rock
Prod: Maggie Renzi, Paul Miller
Dir/Scr: John Sayles
Ph: Stuart Dryburgh
Art dir: Kyler Black
Prod des: Dan Bishop
Costumes: Shay Cunliffe
Music: Mason Daring
Cast: Chris Cooper, Elizabeth Peña, Joe Morton, Kris Kristofferson
Running time: 134mins
International sales: Castle Rock
