“The Witness,” a new documentary about the murder of Kitty Genovese, looks at how the infamous case gathered the fears and prejudices of New Yorkers during a transformative moment in the city’s history — becoming, in the misleading, sensational coverage that followed, a powerful legend, shaping and amplifying the views of many about the nature and value of urban life in America. The film opened at the IFC Center last night, and has been enjoying wide, positive reviews.
In collaboration, The Gotham Center is featuring an exclusive excerpt from History alumna Marcia Gallo’s new, award-winning book on the case,“No One Helped”: Kitty Genovese, New York City, and the Myth of Urban Apathy Gallo spoke on a panel for the Center this fall.

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