An Unreal Dream: The Michael Morton Story

During SXSW I decided to take advantage of some of the festivities when I didn’t feel tired. I went to the free concert on Thursday to see the Flaming Lips and take some pictures. It was my first time attending anything that had to do with SXSW. For those of you not familiar with the initials it’s South by Southwest.

(The founder of SXSW who praised the director of how well the story was told.)

One of the films that I had the opportunity to see was An Unreal Dream: The Michael Morton Story. The first night the film played I was working and I had no idea it would play again. Friday night it played and I was able to get a seat after all of the ticket holders got in. I love documentaries and this was one of those stories that could happen to anyone. After the film I got another surprise, as the Director, Al Reinert came on stage and was joined by Michael Morton and his attorney. I pulled out my cameras and took some pictures and shot some video. We as individual go through things in our lives and we all have a different end result. Any type of traumatic experience effects us. We can’t imagine what we would do if we were convicted of a crime that we knew we didn’t commit and had to spend 25 years of our life behind bars. To lose the one you love and your only child in the process.

(This picture includes the director, Al Reinert, Michael Morton and his attorney.)

An Unreal Dream gives us some insight into the Texas prison system and what can happen when everyone doesn’t do their job. It also shows what happens when a person is persistent in what they believe the truth and having the right person to back you. With the help of the Innocence Project, Michael Morton was released in October of 2011 with evidence from DNA which proved he did not kill his wife. The Innocence Project is a non profit that helps those that are wrongfully convicted.

Michael Morton served 25 years for the murder of his wife. Currently Mark Norwood is on trial for the murder of Christine Morton and another woman. The trial had to be moved to San Angelo so that Mark Norwood could get a fair trial.

Starting over after 25 years can’t be easy, but some people do manage to take the experience that altered their life and turn it into a positive. It seems Michael Morton has done that. He is constantly telling his story which is the best therapy for any traumatic experience.
If you get a chance, I highly recommend this film. You may have read about the story or remember seeing it on the news, but this 92 minute documentary gives a little more insight as you’re hearing it from Michael Morton. What he was feeling and how he got through it all.

Coming up:  More movie reviews, Rubbing elbows with celebrities