The Life and Crimes of Doris Payne

Single African-American mother Doris Payne is a notorious jewel thief born in segregated 1930s America. Now 83, she displays little regret for stealing two million dollars worth of jewels. Shot against the backdrop of an ongoing court case, and with the help of dramatized reconstructions, this film has the senior delinquent explaining her modus operandi – and not without a little pride. Exploiting her natural inventiveness and a range of identities, Doris succeeded for decades in purloining expensive rings from jewelry store display cases – thanks also to her engaging charm and attractive appearance. Friends and family comment on Doris’s behavior, who is still unable to resist outwitting jewelers. “She’s not going to stop, it’s like breathing in and breathing out: it is too easy for her,” explains one girlfriend, while another suggests it’s a continuing act of revenge against a society that wouldn’t let a black woman make her dreams come true. Modern investigation techniques meant Doris found it increasingly difficult to get away with her old-fashioned approach using her sleight-of-hand and acting skills. Will the judge send this elderly woman to prison? It all makes for a highly engaging film about bygone days, the romance of an honest-to-goodness jewel caper and the achievements of a recalcitrant lady chasing her own version of the American Dream.