Christine (2016)

Movie Summary:

Christine is a biographical psychological drama about Christine Chubbuck, a 29-year-old local TV news reporter in Sarasota, Florida, in 1974. The film chronicles the mounting personal and professional frustrations that push her to a tragic act. An ambitious journalist, Christine clashes with her boss over her preference for meaningful, "soft news" stories versus the station's push for sensational "blood and guts" content to improve ratings. Coupled with debilitating depression, social isolation, an unrequited crush on a co-worker, and a devastating health prognosis, Christine spirals, leading to her final, shocking act: committing suicide live on air.

Detailed Plot (Movie Story):

The film opens by introducing Christine Chubbuck (Rebecca Hall), an intelligent but prickly and emotionally fragile news reporter at a small, struggling television station, WXLT-TV, in Sarasota, Florida, in 1974. Christine lives at home with her bohemian mother, Peg (J. Smith-Cameron), and is clearly battling severe, undiagnosed depression, though she attempts to mask it with an abrasive professional demeanor.

Professionally, Christine is at constant odds with her station manager, Michael (Tracy Letts). She advocates for hard-hitting, socially relevant, and community-focused journalism, but Michael—under pressure to boost the station's dismal ratings—pushes the news team toward more sensational and violent "if it bleeds, it leads" stories. Christine's integrity makes her resist this shift, but her growing professional desperation forces her to buy a police scanner to try and compete for the grittier stories her boss wants.

Personally, Christine's life is equally painful. She is isolated, struggles to form relationships, and is intensely self-conscious about still being a virgin. She harbors a deep, almost obsessive crush on the station's lead anchor, George Peter Ryan (Michael C. Hall), whom she idolizes and sees as a professional and personal escape. A visit to the doctor adds another layer of despair when she is informed she needs an ovary removed, severely reducing her chances of conceiving a child, which is a major source of anxiety for her.

Christine's mental state deteriorates as she faces a series of crushing rejections. She is devastated when Michael vetoes her idea for a unique, quasi-documentary news segment, further fueling her belief that her dedication to quality journalism is a mistake. She attempts to socialize more, accepting a date with George, who instead of a romantic evening, takes her to a transactional analysis self-help group. There, Christine tearfully reveals her virginity and deep desire for connection and a family. George is kind but clearly wary of her intensity.

The final domino falls when the station's owner, Bob Anderson (John Cullum), visits, hinting at promotions to a bigger market in Baltimore. Christine desperately maneuvers to secure a transfer, even showing up unannounced at Anderson's house late one night. She is crushed to learn that George secured the promotion but asked for the attractive sports anchor, Andrea, to be transferred with him instead of Christine. The realization that she is professionally overlooked and personally rejected by the man she loves shatters her last bit of hope.

With a chilling resolve, Christine asks Michael for airtime to do a "special segment." On July 15, she begins her live broadcast with several minutes of local news. When a reel of crime-scene footage briefly jams, she announces to the camera, with unsettling calm, that WXLT-TV's policy of airing "blood and guts" is about to deliver a new first: "an attempted suicide." She then pulls out a .38 caliber revolver from under the counter and shoots herself behind the right ear.

The station staff, including her colleague Jean (Maria Dizzia), react in horror as the broadcast is immediately cut. Christine is rushed to the hospital but dies the following day. The film concludes with Jean honoring Christine by putting together a memorial segment of her old, preferred news clips, followed by a quiet scene of Jean at home, seeking solace by eating ice cream and watching an episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, a gentle tribute to her lost friend.

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Release Date:

October 14, 2016 (United States)