2. Capturing The Friedmans (2003)
There are few things as sacred to you as your family. They may get on your nerves but at the end of the day you stand by your blood. When youre young, your parents in particular are nearly untouchable. You look up and admire them. Nevertheless they are merely people and all people have their faults, only some of these faults can be much darker than others. Director Andrew Jarecki was initially going to make a film about childrens birthday party entertainers. As he began to research one of his subjects, popular clown David Friedman, he stumbled upon a story that demanded his attention and completely changed the focus of the film. David Friedmans father, Arnold, and brother, Jesse, had been convicted of child sexual abuse. Jarecki interviews the family and many of the victims and uses stirring home video footage captured by the Friedmans during this tumultuous time as he tells a story of darkness and a family in turmoil. If I have yet to convince you of the ability of a documentary to completely capture your attention, this may be the film to change your mind. You will be sucked into the film as the story becomes darker and the family falls. The Friedmans are the image of mediocrity. An American family with loving parents and three young boys, they are happy. The darkness reveals itself gradually with Arnolds fall precipitating his sons. The trial and terrible deeds the two are accused of is as upsettingly exciting to watch as the best episode of
Law & Order: SVU, but it is the effect on the family that emotionally grounds the film. As Arnolds wife, and the matriarch of the family, comes to believe her husbands guilt she scrambles to save her son. Her familys perceived betrayal takes the bad situation and makes it worse, as they struggle to maintain under the massive weight.
Capturing the Friedmans dares you to turn away with a story more thrilling and complex than many narratives.