ABOUT THE PROJECT
LOGLINE
When a beloved football player commits murder suicide, his orphaned children search for peace in the absence of answers.
SYNOPSIS
Jim Tyrer is known in football circles as the greatest player not in the Professional Football Hall of Fame. He’s also known as the man who inexplicably killed his wife and himself. For Tina, Brad, Stef and Jason, he’s remembered simply as “Dad”—even though he left them orphans with a tarnished legacy when he murdered their mom before killing himself.
BENEATH THE SHADOW follows the children from their idyllic early lives to the night of the crime and decades into the future as they refused to succumb to despair and anger, thanks—in large part—to the grandparents (parents to Martha) who raised them to forgive and move forward—with or without answers. Grandpa and Grandma Cline moved into the room where the murder/suicide took place, raised the children and refused to disparage their son-in-law, Jim. The children excelled. Still, any understanding of the tragedy would elude them for decades.
In 2005, a disease known as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) was discovered in football players who’d suffered brain trauma. Could it be that CTE was what changed their father? The filmmakers began an investigation that produces an answer that had been elusive for more than 4 decades. The story serves as an example of grit, determination and resilience in the face of hopelessness. It’s also asks, if the living victims of the tragedy (the children) can forgive, why can’t professional football do the same?
PROJECT TYPE Documentary Feature
DIRECTOR Kevin Patrick Allen
PRODUCER Eric Frith
WEBSITE goodmanmovie.com
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