Capturing the Friedmans – ABC Film Challenge – Oscar Nominations – C – Capturing the Friedmans – Movie Review
Director: Andrew Jarecki
Plot: Documentary on the Friedmans, a seemingly typical, upper-middle-class Jewish family whose world is instantly transformed when the father and his youngest son are arrested and charged with shocking and horrible crimes.
Runtime: 1 Hour 47 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Verdict on Capturing the Friedmans
Capturing the Friedmans is a documentary following the Friedman family. It looks like they are a normal friendly family until evidence points at the father collecting child pornography. Upon further investigation, a much more disturbing truth is uncovered in the family home.
However, despite the evidence looking clear, it follows the family members telling their stories of their connection with the disgraced family members. All while using video recordings looking to prove their innocence despite public opinion.
This is a documentary which exposes how a criminal case can get blown out of control when the wrong people start dealing with it. However, it doesn’t do anything to prove the truth, from the outside looking in, it seems like a clean-cut case. Even though the documentary is trying to prove their innocence throughout the case.
In the end, this focuses too much on Friedman’s point of view, rather than the authority’s investigation. The legal side of everything would have been a lot more interesting to see.
Where to Watch
Final Thoughts –Capturing the Friedmans dives into the legal battle for innocence or not.
