Tales From the Treatment Rooms
A documentary film by Punkvert - 2006
Experimental documentary investigating the effect the Texas state execution of innocent man Luis Ramirez had on people in the USA and in London. One of many people executed across the globe every year, Luis became the pen-pal of London mosaic artist Baroness von Reichardt. The pair corresponded for almost 6 years. Two days before Luis’ death by lethal injection, the Baroness went to Texas to visit Luis. She vowed to make a mural in his honour, and over the next 8 months she and Mr. Spunky designed and installed a 22 x 6 ft mosaic on the back wall of her house in Chiswick, along with other members of the Treatment Rooms Collective.
Maggie Ramirez in front of the Treatment Rooms 6 x 21 ft mural in Chiswick West London, dedicated to her son Luis executed 20.10.05 by the State of Texas
On the 18th June 2006, the mosaic was unveiled to a local and friendly audience by the family of Luis Ramirez who flew over from the USA especially for this event. The making of the wall and its unveiling has been captured and made into a documentary film by artists Punkvert. Using not only standard film making techniques but also their unique audio-visual creative and performance talents they have turned the story into ‘Tales from the Treatment Rooms – The Luis Ramirez Story’. The 63 minute piece was first screened as a ‘first cut’ at a length of 69 minutes at the Portobello Film Festival and also at an Anti Death Penalty night in Brixton Jamm on October 20th, the 1st anniversary of Luis’ execution.
link to vimeo films