Ditto.Sabin wrote:Powerful post, dws.
I actually started watching the film after reading dws' post. The four hours fly by.
I came to the film with no interest in Michael Jackson. Never liked his music and found his behaviour over the years, as it was virtually impossible to avoid press coverage of him, bizarre and disturbing to say the least. I remember reading that he had passed away and my reaction was of slight surprise and then I just moved on with my day like nothing had happened. Jackson is in some ways to the U.S.(and most of world) what Jimmy Savile was to the U.K.
The documentary takes what I think is one of the best approaches for this kind of material which is to tell the stories in a chronically manner. As the film moves on it becomes more and more disturbing. That, even after the physical abuse of Wade & James, there is much more to unfold as damage of abuse does not stop just because the abuse has. Hopefully, over time other Jackson victims will find the strength to tell their stories publicly - some will go to their graves with their secrets.
Its been a daunting couple of weeks watching TV coverage of child abuse in Australia by a very senior member of the Catholic Church and films and a feature film about child abuse. Just two nights ago I saw Francois Ozon's latest film By the Grace of God, which recently won the second prize at the Berlin Film Festival and without a doubt will be a strong candidate for France to enter into the Foreign Language Category. Its tells the true story of primarily three men who were molested by a paedophile priest as children and their efforts to seek justice. Ozon's film never lets up. It steamrolls along without ever coming up for air and is dialogue heavy with a huge amount of information to convey. Given that he is dealing with a large number of characters all of which he weaves together beautifully and without fuss. Its also quite a departure for Ozon who films are almost always playful and naughty - there is little to be joyful about this though Ozon's straightforward treatment befits its subject matter. And just how the film gets its title 'By the Grace of God' is one of the most shocking moments of the film - there were a large number of audible gasps from the audience when I saw it. Beyond shameful.