The Fishing Hat Bandit

Showings

The Main 2 Fri, Apr 19 7:10 PM
The Main 3 Sat, Apr 20 1:50 PM
Pop's Art Theater Rochester Sun, Apr 21 4:15 PM
The Main 3 Sun, Apr 28 4:00 PM
  Tickets
 
Film Info
Accessibility:HI
Festival:MSPIFF43
Premiere Status:World Premiere
Program:MN Made
Festival Programs:Documentaries
MN Made
Best of Fest
Release Year:2024
Runtime:81 min
Country/Region:USA
Language:English
Print Source:Twin Town Films
Trailer:https://vimeo.com/708267257
Tags:Documentary
MN Made
Crime
Criminal Justice
Guest Attending
Best of Fest
Cast/Crew
Director:Mark R Brown
Producer:Chris Newberry
Mark Brown
Screenwriter:Mark Brown
Nick Clausen
Editor:Nick Clausen
Composer:Charlie McCarron

Description

World Premiere
Director Mark Brown & Special Guest Attending

He was known as “the Fishing Hat Bandit” when he robbed 23 banks in Minnesota over 18 months in the early 2000s. Finally caught, imprisoned, and now free, John Whitrock’s story unfolds in utterly surprising ways in director Mark Brown’s riveting documentary.

John Whitrock kept everyone in law enforcement on their toes during his year-and-a-half long crime spree—while donning his signature bucket hat. By the time he hit a dozen banks, he was making headlines across the state and beyond. Finally captured by a SWAT team that found him hiding in a trunk, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison and soon forgotten. Director Mark Brown hunts down Whitrock, now an old man, and finds a former felon struggling to adjust to life outside of a federal prison, and trying to find some sort of grace and redemption.