History Film / TheLifeOfDavidGale

* SympatheticAdulterer: David. He mentions that it's an open secret that [[{{Cuckold}} his wife is having an affair in Spain]]. This fact plus the [[AlcoholInducedIdiocy alcohol involved]] makes him still feel like a good guy after the incident with Berlin.

* SympatheticAdulterer: David. He mentions that it's an open secret that [[{{Cuckold}} his wife is having an affair in Spain]]. This fact plus the [[AlcoholInducedIdiocy alcohol involved]] makes the audience sympathize with his character even after the incident with Berlin.

* {{Cuckold}}: David. He mentions that it's an open secret that his wife is having an affair in Spain. This fact plus the [[AlcoholInducedIdiocy alcohol involved]] makes him [[SympatheticAdulterer look more sympathetic]] after the incident with Berlin.

* {{Unishment}}: Gale's execution is exactly what he wants, since it will discredit the death penalty because he is technically innocent.

* BrokenAesop: One of the main criticisms of the film, as it turns out that whilst David isn't guilty of murder, he's not exactly 'innocent' either. See CluelessAesop.

* CluelessAesop: The film is very clearly against the death penalty, by trying to show that an innocent person can be executed. The problem is that [[spoiler:rather than showing an innocent person who is a victim of circumstances or a frame-up it shows the victim actually ''wanting'' to get executed, and both him and the murder victim actively trying to make it happen, at which point it's not really an innocent victim of the system so much as an assisted suicide. Even InUniverse this is acknowledged, as this is the reason the Governor refuses to call a moratorium and stop the death penalty as a result of Gale's case.]]

* DownerEnding: [[spoiler:Bloom is unable to prevent Gale's execution and Gale's plan to use his own death and [[AcquittedTooLate late acquittance]] to force the Governor to put a moratory on the death sentence [[AllForNothing comes to nothing]] when the Governor, rightfully pointing out the absurdity of Gale's scheme, refuses.]]

* DeathRow
* DownerEnding

''The Life of David Gale'' is a 2003 thriller film directed by Alan Parker, starring Creator/KevinSpacey, Creator/KateWinslet, and Creator/LauraLinney.

* AcquittedTooLate: Gale's allies are trying to prevent this. [[spoiler:At least, Bitsey Bloom is, but fails. His ''real'' plan is to cause this to happen as a political act to discourage the death penalty.]]

!!This film provides examples of:

* CluelessAesop: The film is very clearly against the death penalty, by trying to show that an innocent person can be executed. The problem is that [[spoiler:rather than showing an innocent person who is a victim of circumstances or a frame-up it shows the victim actually ''wanting'' to get executed, and both him and the murder victim actively trying to make it happen, at which point it's not really an innocent victim of death penalty so much as assisted suicide. Even InUniverse this is acknowledged, as this is the reason the Governor refuses to call a moratorium and stop the death penalty as a result of Gale's case.]]

* FalseRapeAccusation: One of the reasons David loses his job as a college professor. A female student who was failing his course for not showing up for classes later meets him at a party, seduces him, and makes it look like he raped her so she can file rape charges against him. She doesn't even follow up on them since she has already left the country before it can go to trial, she just wanted to tarnish his reputation. It also makes him more plausible as a rapist and murderer later than otherwise he might be.

* ArtisticLicenseHistory: During a drunken ramble, David says Creator/{{Socrates}} was sentenced to death for insulting the judges by, after he was convicted, suggesting as his punishment a fine of only thirty ''mina'', comparing that to thirty bucks. In reality though, ''Literature/ApologyOfSocrates'' says he suggested a fine of a hundred ''drachma'', soon raised to three thousand-a very substantial sum. Being a literature professor, David likely would be aware of this.

* CluelessAesop: The film is very clearly against the death penalty, by trying to show that an innocent person can be executed. The problem is that [[spoiler:rather than showing an innocent person who is a victim of circumstances or a frame-up it shows the victim actually ''wanting'' to get executed, and both him and the murder victim actively trying to make it happen, at which point it's not really an innocent victim of death penalty so much as assisted suicide. Even InUniverse this is acknowledged, as this is the reason the Governor refuses to do a moratorium and remove the death penalty in honor of Gale.]]

* FalseRapeAccusation: One of the reasons David loses his job as a college professor. A female student who was failing his course for not showing up for classes later meets him at a party, seduces him, and then collects his semen so she can file rape charges against him. She doesn't even follow up on them since she has already left the country before it can go to trial, she just wanted to tarnish his reputation. It also makes him more plausible as a rapist and murderer later than otherwise he might be.

* WellIntentionedExtremist: [[spoiler: What Gale and those involved in the plot ultimately are. While their goal is possibly a noble one, the methods they use to attempt to achieve it slide well over into VillainProtagonist with their horrifically abusive manipulation of the justice system and their intentional involvement of innocent bystanders to be complicity in their scheme. ]]
* YouKnowWhoSaidThat: The film invokes GodwinsLaw with this. The film revolves around a university teacher and political activist who is firmly against capital punishment. During a political debate, he baits his opponent like this:

* WellIntentionedExtremist: [[spoiler: what Gale and those involved in the plot ultimately are. While their goal is possibly a noble one, the methods they use to attempt to achieve it slide well over into VillainProtagonist with their horrifically abusive manipulation of the justice system and their intentional involvement of innocent bystanders to be complicity in their scheme. ]]

* FramingTheGuiltyParty: Specifically, a crackpot scheme in which a guilty person makes it ''look'' like he was framed to score political points.

* FalseRapeAccusation: One of the reasons David loses his job as a college professor. A female student who was failing his course for not showing up later meets him at a party, seduces him, and then collects his semen so she can file rape charges against him. She doesn't even follow up on them since she has already left the country before it can go to trial, she just wanted to tarnish his reputation. It also makes him more plausible as a rapist and murderer later than otherwise he might be.

* FalseRapeAccusation: One of the reasons David loses his job as a college professor. A female student who was failing his course for not showing up later meets him at a party, seduces him, and then collects his sperm so she can file rape charges against him. She doesn't even follow up on them since she has already left the country before it can go to trial, she just wanted to tarnish his reputation. It also makes him more plausible as a rapist and murderer later than otherwise he might be.

* FalseRapeAccusation: One of the reasons David loses his job. It also makes him more plausible as a rapist and murderer later than otherwise he might be.

* PitySex: Player with. When Constance reveals she's dying of leukemia, David asks if she has any regrets. She tells him she would have had more sex. When he asks how many partners she's had, she thinks, then holds up four fingers. He asks if she wants to "complete the hand." Her response is an incredulous "A pity lay?" He then tells her it wouldn't be pity. Not quite Sex for Solace, either. David seems to genuinely care for Constance, although she doesn't seem to be all that attracted to him. Perhaps the pity is on her part, as he's just been divorced and fired.

* CluelessAesop: The film is very clearly against the death penalty, by trying to show that an innocent person can be executed. The problem is that [[spoiler:rather than showing an innocent person who is a victim of circumstances or a frame-up it shows the victim actually ''wanting'' to get executed, and both him and the murder victim actively trying to make it happen, at which point it's not really an innocent victim of death penalty as an assisted suicide. Even InUniverse this is acknowledged, as this is the reason the Governor refuses to do a moratorium and remove the death penalty in honor of Gale.]]

David Gale (Spacey) is a Texas death row inmate, former philosophy professor and anti-death penalty activist. Bitsey Bloom (Winslet) is the reporter he requests to conduct an interview in the last week of his life, before his execution for the rape and murder of his friend, colleague, and fellow activist Constance Harraway (Linney). About half of the film is a {{flashback}} as Gale describes the events leading up to his conviction, starting with a rape accusation by one of his students (Creator/RhonaMitra), and claims his innocence. With the help of her intern Zack (Gabriel Mann), Bloom must figure out what really happened and whether Gale can--and should--be saved.

* CluelessAesop: The film is very clearly against the death penalty, by trying to show that an innocent person can be executed. The problem is that [[spoiler:rather than showing an innocent person who is a victim of circumstances or a frame-up it shows the victim actually ''wanting'' to get executed, and both him and the murder victim actively trying to make it happen, at which point it's not really an innocent victim of death penalty as an assisted suicide.]]

* ClearTheirName: David Gale's intention with the interview. [[spoiler:ZigZagged in the end; his and his compatriots' actual plan is for Bloom to fail to clear his name until after his execution.]]

* ThanatosGambit: A double, in fact.