Rent Capturing the Friedmans (2003)

3.7 of 5 from 123 ratings
1h 43min
Rent Capturing the Friedmans Online DVD & Blu-ray Rental
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Synopsis:
The Friedmans are a respectable middle-class Long Island family, addicted to recording their daily lives - on super-8 in the early days, then later on videotape. But their world crumbles when the father, a respected teacher, is accused - along with the youngest of his three sons - of molesting schoolchildren. Unbelievably, the arrest, trial and its horrifying aftermath are all chronicled in the family's own home movies, and the result is a remarkable tangle of contradictions that will haunt you long after the end-credits roll.
Actors:
Arnold Friedman, , , , Seth Friedman, , Frances Galasso, Anthony Sgeugloi, , Joseph Onorato, Judd Maltin, Howard Friedman, Abbey Boklan, Ron Georgalis, Scott Banks, , Debbie Nathan, Jerry Bernstein, Peter Panaro, Lloyd Doppman
Directors:
Producers:
Andrew Jarecki, Marc Smerling
Studio:
Tartan
Genres:
Documentary, Drama
Awards:

2003 Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize Documentary

BBFC:
Release Date:
26/07/2004
Run Time:
103 minutes
Languages:
English Dolby Digital 2.0, English DTS 2.0
Subtitles:
English Hard of Hearing
DVD Regions:
Region 2
Formats:
Pal
Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen 1.85:1
Colour:
Colour
Bonus:
  • Director's Commentary
  • UK Exclusive Director Interview
  • Unseen Friedman home movies
  • Jesse Friedman's life today
  • Director Andrew Jarecki's original short film on children's birthday party clowns
  • Andrew Jarecki interviewed by Charlie Rose
  • Questions, answers and heated debates captured by filmmakers and the Friedman family
  • Footage of the altercation with law enforcement officials at the film's New York premiere
  • More on the case: compelling new evidence, witnesses, and uncut footage of the prosecution's star witness
Disc 1:
This disc includes the main feature
Disc 2:
This disc includes the bonus material

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Reviews (1) of Capturing the Friedmans

A gripping look at the dysfunctional family of a paedophile. - Capturing the Friedmans review by CP Customer

Spoiler Alert
10/02/2010

Originally planned as a documentary about David Friedman, New York’s number one children’s party clown, the focus of the story changed as soon as it was revealed that both David’s father Arnold, a well respected teacher, was the subject of a police sting operation involving Arnold ordering pornographic child magazines from Holland. As the documentary continues and the police investigation unfolds it’s uncovered that Arnold is under suspicion, and subsequently charged with multiple counts of sexually abusing young students at his after school computer classes, and while interviewed students testify that David’s younger brother Jesse had also abused them. As the pair face numerous charges of child molestation the documentary tells the story of the Friedman family through home movies, interviews and fly on the wall footage and captures the storm surrounding what was a well respected middle class family. Aside from the engrossing and disturbing subject matter what makes ‘Capturing The Friedmans’ so interesting is the Friedman family themselves, a heavily male dominated family in which father and sons seem to constantly try and outdo each other with self deprecating humour and eccentricities which often result in the mother of the family being pushed outside of the male dominated circle. And as the evidence mounts against Arnold and Jesse, and the trial approaching the male members’ of family never seem to get a grip of the gravity of the situation, instead trying to push on with a normal day to day life. By the end of the film you’ll either be condemning two deceitful and calculating paedophiles or a extraordinary miscarriage of justice, but the story of the Friedman’s is one which will leave you with more questions than answers. If you enjoy documentaries then this isn’t something you should miss.

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