John Sayles, writer and director (Columbia Pictures, 1996)

John Sayles’ cross-cultural murder mystery explores the borders that create interpersonal and interracial tensions in Rio County, Texas. Sheriff Sam Deeds is called to investigate the discovery of a skeleton of a murdered man buried in the desert forty years ago, and is drawn deeper into dark secrets held on both sides of the border when the trail leads to the now-deceased father he grew to hate, local legend and former sheriff Buddy Deeds. Deftly interweaving the present and the era of the killing, communities and characters thought to live merely parallel lives are brought face-to-face as the plot draws to its startling finish.

John Sayles, independent filmmaker and Rachel St. John, New York University, will introduce the film and lead a discussion afterward.