American Violence (2017)

Denise Richards: Amanda Tyler

Photos 

Quotes 

• Jackson Shea : You've read some papers. Some file a prison hack too stupid to make it on the outside wrote about me after he showed me some inkblots. You read that shit and think you're inside my head? Doc, you don't know a fucking thing about me.

  Amanda Tyler : You're right, Jack. I don't know a fucking thing about you. And if I did, I wouldn't be here wasting my time, or yours. Would you like me to leave?

• Jackson Shea : [about attacking his abusive uncle]  It was the first time in my life I was ever in control of the events that guided me. Nothing's more freeing than that.

  Amanda Tyler : You know you could've stopped him without putting him in the hospital. You chose to fly into a rage.

  Jackson Shea : Don't you get it, doc? We're all just caged animals. With animal instincts.

• [last lines] 

  Amanda Tyler : [lecturing her class]  Violence. What is the cause? To truly understand the nature of violence, we need to look beyond the individual. We need to look at the culture of violence that permeates our society. And we also need to look at the way that we punish those that commit acts of violence. Because when we answer violence with violence and trade death for death, all we're doing is perpetuating a vicious cycle.

  Student : But what if someone you love was murdered? Would you feel that answering violence with violence is appropriate?

  Amanda Tyler : I believe I would feel that in the moment. But I wouldn't want their deaths avenged by a cruel and capricious system.