Capturing The Friedmans (Special Edition)

DVD Extras

• Director's commentary
• UK exclusive Director Interview
• Unseen Friedman home movies
• Jesse Friedman's life today
• Jarecki's original short film about birthday party clowns
• Jarecki interview
• Questions, answers and heated debates captured by filmmaker and Friedman family
• Footage of altercation with law enforcement officials at New York premiere
• More on the Case - new evidence, witnesses and uncut footage of the prosecution's star witness.

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Star Review

Oscar nominated debut Capturing The Friedmans is one of the most remarkable documentaries made in recent years. Jarecki started by making a film about clowns, featuring a young man named David Friedman. During the filming, Jarecki learned that David was a member of a family who had been in the news after two of their number were charged with abusing children whilst giving computer lessons; he then discovered that David had home videos of his family showing their reactions to the accusations. After being granted access to these personal documents, Jarecki interviewed the family members and made this fascinating film, detailing how the family reacted as the pressure took its toll.
Capturing The Friedmans triggers many questions, not least about the nature of truth. Interviewees speaking out against the Friedmans continually contradict reality when describing the family's alleged heinous crimes, whilst the victims' descriptions of sexual abuse, though harrowing, seem curiously implausible. Not that the Friedmans come across as completely wronged victims – the father did have child pornography in his house, whilst Jesse Friedman's bizarrely indifferent and nonchalant attitude after the accusations seems jarringly inappropriate.
With numerous clips of the family's incredibly candid home videos, Capturing The Friedmans occasionally feels like a nightmarish reality television show, with the breakdown of familial relationships taking place before the audience's scrutinising gaze. Despite this, it is riveting to seen how the family turn on the mother, whose refusal to say conclusively that she believes the alleged assaults definitely did

Alex Davidson on 1st July 2004

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Film Description

Powerful documentary about a middle-class Long Island family ruptured by allegations of child abuse. Incredibly, their entire ordeal is captured on videotape. The film has the capacity to amaze and appal in equal measure.

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