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Capturing the Friedmans

2003 · Movie · NR · 107 min · ★ 7.1 · 94% critics

DocumentaryCrime

This Oscar nominated documentary follows a middle-class American family as accusations of sexual abuse shatter their lives and pull a father and son into a public legal battle. The director interviews people across the conflict and examines competing accounts, repeatedly asking whether justice was fairly carried out when evidence is disputed.

IMDb

Where to watch

Streaming on HBO Max.

2 hours to watch.

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Details
Years
2003
Release date
2003-05-30
Language
English
Rated
NR
Runtime
107 min
Critic score
94/100
TMDB rating
7.1/10 (359 votes)
About

You’ll like this if you enjoy tense, real-life scandals and courtroom mysteries that keep challenging your sense of certainty; Not for you if you want a clear verdict, comfort, or lightly handled documentaries like The Keepers or Paradise Lost 2: Revelations.

Pros: gripping true-crime story; heavy family fallout; thought-provoking questions | Cons: emotionally difficult topic; uneven narrative slant; unclear conclusions

Themes

  • pedophilia
  • sexual abuse
  • child pornography
  • sodomy
  • middle class
  • pedophile
  • american
  • family
  • incest
  • childhood sexual abuse
  • sexual predator

Awards & recognition

  • Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize — Best Documentary · 2003
  • Academy Award — Best Documentary Feature Film · 2004 · nominated

Cast & crew

Directed by Andrew Jarecki