Capturing the Friedmans

2003 documentary

Rating: 14/20

Plot: A seemingly normal Jewish family near Long Island is torn apart by revelations of the father's pedophilia and accusations that both the father and the youngest son molested young boys during a computer class the former taught. Personal and more-than-slightly creepy home footage and interviews with slimy lawyers, vindictive judges, buffoonish detectives, and confused alleged victims are used to try to piece together the story of a family that nothing could ever piece together again.

Troubling stuff nearly jerked out the tears even though the direction (by the guy who invented Moviefone, by the way) is at times overly sentimental and contriving. Almost every ounce of this reality show is difficult to watch, but it is a fascinating glimpse at how quickly things can fall apart, how quickly fingers can be pointed, and how quickly folks can hop aboard the witch hunt bandwagon. Stuffed with unanswered questions, Capturing the Friedmans oozes despair. It's something I probably want to forget about but doubt I ever will.