''A Life Interrupted'' is a 2007 Lifetime Television film directed by

Stefan Pleszczynski Stefan Pleszczynski (born in Eastern Townships, Quebec) is a Polish-Canadian film and television director, film producer and screenwriter. Career Pleszczynski's television credits include ''Da Vinci's Inquest'', ''Intelligence'', ''The Worst W ...

and starring Lea Thompson. It was nominated in 2008 for the Best TV Movie

Gemini Award The Gemini Awards were awards given by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television between 1986–2011 to recognize the achievements of Canada's television industry. The Gemini Awards are analogous to the Emmy Awards given in the United States ...

. It depicts events in the life of sexual assault victim Debbie Smith, which led to the passage of the

Debbie Smith Act The Debbie Smith Act of 2004 () provides United States federal government grants to eligible states and units of local government to conduct DNA analyses of backlogged DNA samples collected from victims of crimes and criminal offenders. The Ac ...

. in 2004. On March 3, 1989, a man wearing a ski mask entered Debbie Smith's home in Williamsburg, Virginia, and threatened her with a gun. He then dragged her into the woods and blindfolded her, before raping her repeatedly over the next hour. She participated in the collection of DNA evidence for a sexual assault evidence kit, but it was not formally tested and entered into the national criminal database until 1994. The film follows Debbie's fight for justice.

Cast

* Lea Thompson as Debbie Smith * Anthony Lemke as Rob Smith * Cindy Busby as Crystal Smith *Eleonore Lamothe as Young Crystal * Tommy Lioutas as Bobby Smith * Devon Bostick as Young Bobby

References

External links

* Canadian drama television films English-language Canadian films Lifetime (TV network) films 2007 television films 2007 films 2000s Canadian films {{Canada-tv-film-stub