Tuning In

’Crime’ disturbs

During a weekend filled with Mother’s Day TV specials, Showtime is offering a not-so-exalted presentation about a very different — and scary — kind of mom.

“An American Crime” (premiering at 9 p.m. tomorrow) stars Oscar-nominees Ellen Page (“Juno”) and Catherine Keener (“Capote,” “The 40-Year-Old Virgin”) in a re-enactment of the real-life Indiana tragedy that’s still hard to stomach more than 40 years later.

Directed by Indianapolis native Tommy O’Haver (“Ella Enchanted”) and screened at last year’s Sundance Film Festival, the made-for-cable film takes an unflinching look in recalling the tale of Gertrude Baniszewski, an Indiana divorcee who, with the help of others, oversaw the systematic torture and eventual murder of 16-year-old Sylvia Likens.

The story takes place in Indianapolis in 1965, where Sylvia (Miss Page) and her younger, disabled sister Jennie (Hayley McFarland) are left by their parents — carnival workers Betty and Lester Liken (Nick Searcy and Romy Rosemont) — in the temporary custody of Mrs. Baniszewski, the unstable mother of five.

As Mrs. Baniszewski inflicts her horrific punishment on Sylvia — including frequent beatings and sexual abuse that would leave the teenager incontinent — the film grows increasingly disturbing to watch. Its saving grace, however, is Miss Keener’s performance as the monstrous captor (a role she initially turned down, according to the Internet Movie Database) — and, even more remarkable, Miss Page’s astonishing turn as the preyed-upon teen.

Drawing on transcripts from the murder trial (“The West Wing’s” Bradley Whitford plays the prosecutor), the film examines several key questions: How could anyone have done what Mrs. Baniszewski (who left prison five years before her death in 1990) did? And why didn’t those who knew of Sylvia’s ordeal come to her rescue?

“An American Crime,” like the real-life crime, offers no easy answers.

Today

Faith & Fame (4:30 p.m., Gospel Music Channel) — Cable’s ever-growing GMC continues its weeklong tribute to Mother’s Day with some of the genre’s most popular performing moms, who balance faith, fame and parenting. Today, the Christian pop quartet Point of Grace (members are Shelley Breen, Heather Payne, Denise Jones and Terry Jones) is in the spotlight.

Tomorrow

Paula’s Home Cooking (10:30 a.m., Food Network) — Joined by sons Bobby and Jamie, Southern-bred chef Paula Deen whips up a sumptuous Mother’s Day brunch. On the menu: nutty orange coffee cake, benedictine sandwiches and eggs in a nest.

Sunday

Cable’s TCM is offering a four-hour block to movies about and/or starring Frank Sinatra and his kin — a guaranteed treat for moms who are fans of Ol’ Blue Eyes.

On the bill:

Frank Sinatra: A Man and His Music, part 2 (1966) — 8 and 11 p.m. — Joined by his daughter, Nancy, the legendary crooner performs a set of classic tunes.

It Happened in Brooklyn (1947) — 9 p.m. — Returning GI Danny Miller (Mr. Sinatra) and his friends try to make it in the music business. Jimmy Durante, Kathryn Grayson, Peter Lawford co-star.

Guys and Dolls (1955) — 12 a.m. (midnight) — Sky Masterson (Marlon Brando) bets Nathan Detroit (Mr. Sinatra), a big-city gambler, that he can seduce any girl selected by Nathan, who chooses Salvation Army girl Sarah Brown (Jean Simmons). The cast also includes Vivian Blaine and Stubby Kaye.

Also Sunday: Showbiz siblings Donny and Marie Osmond will crown “America’s Favorite Mom” during an hour-long special airing at 7 p.m. The winner, selected by thousands of votes cast online, receives $250,000 along with a washer and dryer, a diamond-encrusted pendant and a rose named in her honor.

Compiled by Robyn-Denise Yourse from staff, Web and wire reports