Marie (1985)

In the heart of the 1970s, Marie Ragghianti, a survivor of a tumultuous marriage, finds herself starting anew in her mother's Tennessee home. She dedicates herself to creating a better life for her three young children, especially her youngest, Ricky, who is battling significant health issues. Juggling waitressing and studies, she tenaciously completes her degree in English and Psychology at Vanderbilt. In her pursuit for a stable life, Marie seeks help from an old college acquaintance, Eddie Sisk. Recently appointed as the legal counsel for the newly elected Tennessee Governor Ray Blanton, Eddie presents Marie with a lifeline - a job as the Extradition Officer for the state. Grateful, Marie accepts and quickly ascends the bureaucratic ladder, first operating as the liaison to the Governor, and then the Parole Board Chief. However, tranquility eludes Marie as she delves deeper into her roles. The Governor's inexplicable desire to grant parole and even full pardons to undeserving inmates unnerves her. She finds herself in a moral maze, wrestling with the unsavory quid pro quo and the unnerving manipulations of Eddie and the Governor. As Marie voices her growing concerns, she becomes a target, threatened and discredited by those she dared to question. In this political quagmire, Marie transforms from a victim into a whistleblower. Undeterred by the risks to her safety, career, and reputation, she embarks on a dogged pursuit of truth, unmasking the insidious corruption seeping through the corridors of power. Marie's story is a testament to the strength of conviction, demonstrating that even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, one woman's resolve can shake the foundations of a rotten system.

Marie is a drama movie featuring Sissy Spacek and directed by Roger Donaldson.

Marie is currently streaming on HBO Max.