Capturing the Friedmans backdrop
Capturing the Friedmans logo
2003·Documentary·1h 47m
7.0
An Oscar nominated documentary about a middle-class American family who is torn apart when the father Arnold and son Jesse are accused of sexually abusing numerous children. Director Jarecki interviews people from different sides of this tragic story and raises the question of whether they were rightfully tried when they claim they were innocent and there was never any evidence against them.
Directed by Andrew Jarecki
pedophilia
sexual abuse
child pornography
sodomy
middle class
pedophile
american
family
incest
childhood sexual abuse
sexual predator

Cast

Jesse Friedman
Jesse Friedman
Self
Debbie Nathan
Debbie Nathan
Self - Investigative Journalist

Crew

Andrew Jarecki
Andrew Jarecki
Director
Marc Smerling
Marc Smerling
Producer
Andrew Jarecki
Andrew Jarecki
Producer
Marc Smerling
Marc Smerling
Additional Photography
Andrea Morricone
Andrea Morricone
Music

Popular Reviews

84 reviews
Ajwild
Ajwild
Capturing the Friedmans
This documentary made me more angry than anything else. It spends so much time trying to make the Friedman family seem normal and likable that it barely gives the victims the attention they deserve.

What bothered me most was how the mother was treated like the villain for standing her ground, while the father was accused of abusing children. The whole thing felt biased and left a really bad taste in my mouth.

I honestly don’t understand how this got an Oscar nomination.
This documentary made me more angry than anything else. It spends so much time trying to make the Friedman family seem normal and likable that it barely gives the victims the attention they deserve.

What bothered me most was how the mother was treated like the villain for standing her ground, while the father was accused of abusing children. The whole thing felt biased and left a really bad taste in my mouth.

I honestly don’t understand how this got an Oscar nomination.
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Movienightmare
Movienightmare
Capturing the Friedmans
‎the man deserved punishment for the simple fact that he's a confirmed pedophile let alone all the other horrible shit he's convicted for
‎the man deserved punishment for the simple fact that he's a confirmed pedophile let alone all the other horrible shit he's convicted for
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Benny
Benny
Capturing the Friedmans
I’m still kind of torn about this, even though it’s been a few days since I watched the documentary. The case is definitely shocking, and the documentary is well-made, but I always find it a bit difficult to let a perpetrator have his say when he denies everything and is able to spread his absurd lies in this way. I don’t know, but I feel like we gain absolutely nothing from it.
I’m still kind of torn about this, even though it’s been a few days since I watched the documentary. The case is definitely shocking, and the documentary is well-made, but I always find it a bit difficult to let a perpetrator have his say when he denies everything and is able to spread his absurd lies in this way. I don’t know, but I feel like we gain absolutely nothing from it.
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marisa s
marisa s
Capturing the Friedmans
“Who do you believe?” is the tagline? Really? Are we fucking serious? I believe the numerous children who came forward and admitted they were sexually assaulted by a white affluent man who was literally caught with child porn and admitted to molesting young boys. Fuck you.
“Who do you believe?” is the tagline? Really? Are we fucking serious? I believe the numerous children who came forward and admitted they were sexually assaulted by a white affluent man who was literally caught with child porn and admitted to molesting young boys. Fuck you.
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masturbae
masturbae
Capturing the Friedmans
when jesse danced outside of the courthouse I had chills what an absolute joke of a documentary
when jesse danced outside of the courthouse I had chills what an absolute joke of a documentary
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