Little Pink House is based on the true story of Susette Kelo and how she battled the city of New London, Connecticut’s Development Corporation for the sake of her neighborhood and her home.
The film captures the struggle between a small motivated community, led by Kelo, and their court case with the state surrounding the topic of eminent domain in 2005. Although the timeline can dawdle at times, so do real-life court cases, especially those that make it to the Supreme Court.
While the structure and timeline of some sequences can become unclear, the urgency of the story is reinforced with the captivating performances. Two-time Academy Award nominee, Catherine Keener, brings this timeless story to life with the help of a charming and witty cast. This issue of a small, almost helpless, group of people fighting against a huge corporation will resonate in today’s society.
Susette Kelo recently left her toxic marriage and finds herself a new tiny waterfront house to remodel in a small working-class neighborhood. After fixing up her new home, Kelo decides to paint it pink. Not long after she settles in and has made a new life for herself, the malicious mayor of New London attempts to bring in a large pharmaceutical company to grow the economy of the small city. This company, Pfizer, will need to build their plant on the waterfront, right on top of Kelo’s pink home and many others. Kelo and the majority of her neighbors have no interest in selling the houses they have lived in for so many years.
Although Kelo was defeated, this film resembles the infinite possibilities that
come with the strength of refusing to give up.
Kelo works long hours as a paramedic but works even harder to help her small town save their homes. The government has the right to take their land for public use under the laws of the Constitution, however, this issue becomes very murky when the government tries to take their land to build a private corporation. This particular eminent domain dispute became a landmark Supreme Court case Kelo vs. New London. After losing the case, the story was spread throughout the country by thousands of newspaper articles and television excerpts. This initiated a movement that led to multiple state legislatures to change their eminent domain laws.
Ultimately, Kelo’s inspiring story in Little Pink House is a story about justice. Although Kelo was defeated in court, this film resembles the infinite possibilities that come with the strength of refusing to give up. The incredible performances will intrigue you into an already fascinating story of the justice system in the case of Kelo vs. New London. Little Pink House is definitely a film worth watching and a story worth spreading.
‘Little Pink House’ is not rated. 98 minutes. Opening this Friday at Laemmle’s Monica Film Center and Playhouse 7.
