The Lottery (2006 film)
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- This article is about the 2006 motion picture. For the short story, see "The Lottery".
| The Lottery | |
|---|---|
 Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick and Marty Davey in "The Lottery" |
|
| Directed by | Augustin Kennady |
| Produced by | Augustin Kennady Scott Schriner Anthony Rando |
| Written by | Anthony Rando Shirley Jackson |
| Starring | Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick Marty Davey Kevin Kenny Bob Walz |
| Music by | Augustin Kennady |
| Cinematography | Andy Sparaco |
| Editing by | Jameson Ryan |
| Release date(s) |  March, 2007 |
| Running time | 11 min. |
| Country | US |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $20,000 |
| Official website | |
| IMDb profile | |
The Lottery is a short film adapted by screenwriter Anthony Rando from Shirley Jackson's short story of the same name. With Augustin Kennady directing and Scott Schriner producing for Aura Pictures Limited, the film features cinematography by Andy Sparaco. Kevin Kenny appears in the role of Mr. Summers. Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick and his parents, Jim and Marty, portray the Hutchinson family.
The film revolves around an annual event held in a small, timeless, nondescript American town. The film takes a departure from the short story for the first five minutes, where a series of scenes introduce several of the townsfolk and their pre-lottery tradition. The remaining five minutes of the film focuses then on the lottery itself, conducted by Mr. Summers.
Shooting commenced August 26, 2006 and wrapped the following day. The film was shot in Saylorsburg and Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania.
It premiered at the Philadelphia Film Festival on April 11, 2007. An edited cut was screened at four other film festivals throughout 2007. They were the Staten Island Film Festival, the Charlotte Film Festival, the Eerie Horror Festival, and the Delaware Valley Film Festival.
[edit] Plot
The film begins with Mr. Summers carefully examining the paper slips strewn about his Coal Company office table. He eyes them and makes a deliberate motion, marking a slip with a coal pencil, shortly thereafter leaving the room.
The movie cuts to the Hutchinson family at breakfast. Davy notes that it is okay his eggs are burnt, since today is "lottery day." John Hutchinson laments on how he will miss the house, but his wife Tessie reaffirms that things will be more civilized in the north village. John kisses his wife goodbye and leaves for the lottery.
Elsewhere, a group of girls are celebrating Susie Adams' birthday party. One of the girls notes that it must be strange having both the lottery and her birthday on the same day. However, her thought is interrupted by a local boy picking up small stones. The girls begin to taunt the boy, Harry Jones. Tabby Adams, Susie's mother, calls her daughter inside.
Tabby finishes Susie's pigtails and tells her that things will be different if one of them wins the lottery. It appears, however, that Susie doesn't care about or even understand the gravity of the situation. She breezily skips out the door.
At that moment, Mr. Graves passes the Adams' house. Graves is en route to the post office to mail a letter. He informs Tabby that the drawing will not begin for another few minutes. At the post office, Old Man Warner refuses to take Graves' letter. Upset, Graves mentions to Warner that the north village is thinking of quitting the lottery. Warner, a cantankerous old man, notes that this new trend is from listening to the young folk--a statement Graves finds amusing.
The town square is bustling in preparation for the lottery. The townsfolk are gossipping and chatting amongst each other. John Hutchinson is nervous as he can't see Tessie or Davy in the crowd. Joe Adams notes that he hasn't seen Bobby either. Old Man Warner interrupts and rehashes his previous statements on the destructive nature of listening to the youth, comparing the behavior to "living in caves." Mr. Martin jocularly posits that he will propose it to the mayor the next morning. At that point, Mr. Summers walks through the crowd with an assistant. Summers greets the locals, while his assistant carries the box. His second assistant waits near the platform with an umbrella. John grows increasingly nervous as the lottery is about to commence.
Meanwhile, Tessie Hutchinson is finishing her sink full of dishes. She acknowledges that she is late and hurriedly snatches her son from his chair and rushes him out the door. At the town square, Summers explains that he will try to finish quickly this year. The crowd reminds him that Clyde Dunbar has broken his leg, and his wife offers to draw for him. Summers notices that John is alone in the crowd. At that moment, Tessie and Davy arrive at the scene. The rules are laid out: each family member draws one slip from the box--married daughters draw with their husband's family. The procession commences, and each character draws a slip, punctuated by Jack Watson--a cripple. Both of Jack Watson's parents have won the lottery, including his father last year. The crowd applauds Jack's effort to draw a slip.
Summers then gives the order to open up the slips. The crowd opens. Jack opens his and begins to cry. The crowd suspects that Jack has won. However, Tessie lowers her paper to reveal that she is the winner. Mrs. Delacroix announces to the crowd that Tessie Hutchinson won.
Instantly, a circle forms around her. John escorts young Davy away and is stopped by Jack Watson. Various townsfolk grab boulders from a nearby pile. Watson utters the line, "Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon," to Davy and hands him a rock, which he throws at his screaming and terrified mother. At that moment, the entire crowd converges on Tessie, bludgeoning her to death... the prize for winning the lottery.
