This film was made by Kitty Genovese's brother, William. He spends this movie talking about and interviewing just a few people about the infamous murder of his sister--a story sensationalized by the New York Times back in 1964. Unfortunately, it was over 50 years ago...and few witnesses are still alive and the murderer wouldn't participate in the film. Still, the documentary was interesting in spots--such as when it becomes apparent that the Times actually botched the story...there WERE witnesses who claim to have called the police and Kitty definitely did NOT die alone as the paper claimed. Additionally, interviews with the person who stayed with her when she died and the interview with the killer's son were mildly interesting...mildly. However, the film seems to say nothing definitely and the story only held my interest but never did much more.

The brother of Kitty Genovese investigates the circumstances of her murder and the truth of the story that dozens of locals witnessed the crime and did nothing to intervene.

This is a story I have been aware of for 20 years. I never investigated it in any detail, but had been fascinated and did hear that much of the original story as reported in the media (and subsequent textbooks) was wrong. Here, in painstaking detail, we get to the bottom of things.

Anyone who takes the time to seek out the documents, track down witnesses,and even speak with the killer's son... that deserves a commendation. This should be winning awards right and left. The fact it is a family member makes it even stronger.

Bill Genovese, one of the three brothers of slain New York tavern manager Kitty Genovese (in a murder case dating back to 1964),seeks closure to his sister's horrific death, wherein over 30 residents of a Queens apartment house allegedly heard her screaming for help after being stabbed repeatedly in the early morning hours but did not respond. Bill--a forthright and determined man able to get about almost effortlessly in a wheelchair--has become obsessed with the details of the crime over the past 50 years and, with the help of co-writer-producer-director James D. Solomon, gains incredible access to both everyday citizens and journalists who were either directly or indirectly involved. Bill discovers the facts of the case were somewhat embellished by reporters eager to sell newspapers on the strength of the story's more sensational aspects. He also reenacts the crime with an actress on the exact spot his sister was slain (with advance notice to the neighbors, of course). Most telling is a meeting with the son of Winston Moseley, Kitty's now-incarcerated killer, who admits to being apprehensive of meeting Bill after years of hearing that the Genovese family were part of the Italian Mafia. An altogether compelling, absorbing and emotional film, impeccably assembled and thought-provoking. ***1/2 from ****