'ATTACK' AT 20: DEATH OF A SKYWALKER!

A mother and son reunited... if all too briefly.

Following the trail of the elusive Tusken Raider tribe that have kidnapped his mother, Anakin finally discovers their distant location and begins a solo rescue mission. Though successful, their reunion is sadly brief. Overjoyed to see her son after so long, Shmi Skywalker's brief happiness sees her sadly die in her son's eyes, due to the intense injuries inflicted on her by the Tuskens. Sure enough, Anakin's path to the Dark Side is confirmed when he mercilessly seeks revenge on the primitive group, killing all of them with his lightsaber using retaliation, even slaughtering the women and children!

Anakin find the far out Tusken encampment.

The dramatic scene was shot on a small set comprising a small area of sand and with one tent at the Australia FOX Studios in 2000, the backgrounds around the tent being later enhanced by model and matte work for the finished film. 

The Tusken encampment where Shmi has been captured.

Concept art for the encampment by Ed Natividad from 2000.

A look at members of the Tusken Raider nomad community.

One of the Tusken females in a costume reference/publicity image.

Closer look at the mask of a Tusken female.

“There is something about Pernilla August (playing Shmi) that is hard to explain. She has an aura about her and when she walked onto the set, it affected everybody. Hayden loved her. Emotionally, this scene is a big turning point, because this is what sets Anakin off. And I think to have the character of his mother played by Pernilla made it that much more emotional for Hayden.” 

Rick McCallum - Star Wars: Mythmaking book - 2002

Anakin is shocked by what has happened to his mother.

The injured Shmi, tortured as a trophy prize by the Tuskens.

A tender moment between a reunited mother and son.

One final gesture of love from mother to son.

Lucas and Pernilla August on set during this tense, sad and emotional scene's filming.

“My mother (Shmi Skywalker) pretty much dies in my arms and my immediate reaction is to go ballistic. I walk out of town and murder all of the Sand People. There isn’t too much to it. I haven’t seen the film so I don’t now how long it’s played out, but when we shot it it was just me in front of a blue screen pretending there’s Sand People there and killing them. It’s just me with a lightsaber going “Aargh!” to nothing. I have no idea what it looks like but as long as I look like a bad-ass Jedi, then cool.” 

Hayden Christensen - Arena Magazine interview - June 2002

Anakin goes on his murderous rampage.

The killing spree begins, and the balance of the Force is unsettled...