CAPTURING THE FRIEDMANS (2003)
Reviewed by Jerry Saravia
Imagine America back in the 1980's. For some reason, child abuse, both sexual and physical, was the hysteria of its time (and to some degree, it still is). Imagine the allegations that a science teacher may have sexually abused his young students in the basement of his house. Imagine that his son helped him. And then imagine how a town would react to the case, no doubt helped by the media's gaze. That is the subject at the heart of "Capturing the Friedmans," one of the most powerful documentaries I've seen since Terry Zwigoff's "Crumb." It is disturbing subject matter but it is so compelling, so fascinating, you'll want to see it twice.
The town is the affluent Great Neck, located on Long Island, New York. The case began in 1987 when a science teacher, Arnold Friedman, was busted by the FBI for having child pornography magazines. An FBI agent disguised himself as a mailman and busted him one hour later after delivering the magazine. But the FBI also found photos of a computer class, and the names of young students that attended the class. Right away, the FBI concluded that Arnold, due to possession of child porn, was a pedophile. The police and the FBI interviewed every one of the students and got their testimony, admitting they were indeed raped by Arnold. However, it is learned that one of Arnold's sons, Jesse, may have done the majority of sexual abuse. The media devours the story, showing Arnold and Jesse to be the culprit of these crimes against underage children. Still, there was no physical evidence to convict them, only the testimony.
"Capturing the Friedmans" tells the sad story of this case from many interview subjects. Jesse, shown in prison, insists he's innocent, saying he was forced to plead guilty by his lawyer. Arnold is mostly seen in video footage taken by his oldest son, David (who is one of New York's best-known clowns), revealing very little. Arnold's wife, Elaine, loves her husband but is forever changed by the allegations, feeling betrayed of her love and trust for him. In fact, she suffers verbal abuse from the angry David (seen wearing underwear on his head the day of his father's arrest), who is miffed that his mother is not more supportive of her husband. There is also the youngest child, Seth (who declined to be interviewed), though he mostly exists in the sidelines. The cops and the defense lawyer are convinced of Arnold and Jesse's guilt, but could the media have played a major influence on their guilt, considering they came from an affluent town where such egregious behavior presumably never happens? Or is it, as journalist Debbie Nathan suggests, a town where such a crime needs a quick scapegoat so that everyone appears more victimized than they really are?
The bulk of "Capturing the Friedmans" focuses on the endless video footage shot by David of his family's reaction to Arnold and Jesse, mostly during their house arrest. There is even a self-imposed reflection by David that may cause people to feel uneasy, especially when he says no one, not even the police, should view the tape. There is one clip of Jesse dancing around the courthouse on the day he is going to jail. Everyone has a way of dealing with despair - Jesse and his brothers have their sense of humor intact, unlike their mother.
Arnold remains a mystery, a professed pedophile who claims he never harmed any boy in Great Neck. Still, how could child pornography have convicted this man in the eyes of the FBI and police? Just because you like child porn doesn't mean you are a pedophile (although the allusion is still there). And even if he is one, it doesn't mean he harmed the boys in his class. We do hear accounts from those who claimed to have been molested, and others who claimed that no abuse ever took place. And Arnold remains elusive for details, using humor and detachedness to get through the mess. His wife is no help and all David can do is ask, "You didn't do it, did you Dad?"
"Capturing the Friedmans" finally captures the most tragic part of this story, the destruction of a family based on bias and false allegations. After the film is over, you are still not sure what is the truth and what is hearsay. To some, this may prove frustrating. To others, it will prove to be indelibly fascinating.
