Larry v. Lockney 2002
Distributed by Filmakers Library, 124 East 40th Street, New York, NY 10016; 202-808-4980
Produced by Mark Birnbaum and Jim Schermbeck
Director n/a
VHS, color, 56 min.
Sr. High - Adult
Education, Law, Political Science
Date Entered: 11/09/2018
Reviewed by Carolyn Walden, Mervyn H. Sterne Library, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)This award winning documentary film features the struggle of Larry Tannahill, a Lockney, Texas cotton farmer, against the school board of Lockney Independent School district and their implementation of a mandatory drug testing for students in the 6th through 12th grades. Tannahill expresses his view that he wants the drug policy but wants the rights protected of each student. Expressing his view that he “feels like I’m telling my son I don’t trust him,” his stand against the school board policy pits him against the entire community who all seem to be in favor of the drug testing. He sues the school board with the help of the ACLU and discovers “the price of democracy, when one man stands against the majority.” He is hurt by friends, loses his job and the family dog is shot by a paint gun but Tannahill prevails with his battle against the town of Lockney with a population of 2200 because the fight was “worth it if you believe what you’re fighting.”
Considered a test case, the outcome is reported as a landmark decision for the Fourth Amendment right against unreasonable search and seizure. The film captures the culture of the town and reveals the intensity of feelings on both sides with the candid sincere interviews of Tannahill and his family, students, parents, teachers, reporters, newspaper editors, and attorneys in the case. Especially effective is the way the film alternates the comments of persons involved with each side so that the viewer has a sense of being in the jury box listening to the case. The opening and closing music, “High Cotton” with its blues style complete with harmonica accompaniment and guitar is so appropriate for the scenes of the work in the cotton fields in this straight Texas South Plains community northeast of Lubbock in Floyd County.
The film provides a comprehensive look at both sides of the issue and explores the personal moments with the legal facts concluding with the resulting decision by the court and the subsequent decisions of the school board. This film is an excellent addition for collections in Education, Law and Political Science. Highly recommended.
Awards
- Best documentary, Deep Ellum Film Festival, 2002
- Telly Award, 2003