CAPTURING THE FRIEDMANS

Year: 2003
USA: Magnolia Pictures
UK: Tartan Films
Cast: Arnold Friedman, Elaine Friedman, David Friedman, Seth Friedman, Jesse Friedman, Howard Friedman, John McDermott, Detective Frances Galasso, Anthony Sgueglia, Joseph Onorato, Judd Maltin, Judge Abbey Boklan, Ron Georgalis, Scott Banks, Debbie Nathan, Jerry Bernstein, Peter Panaro, Lloyd Doppman, Jack Fallin
Director: Andrew Jarecki
Country: USA
USA & UK: 107 mins
UK Certificate: 15 contains strong language and theme of child abuse
USA Release Date: 30 May 2003 (Limited Release - New York)
UK Release Date: 9 April 2004


Synopsis

Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival, CAPTURING THE FRIEDMANS is the most riveting, provocative, and hotly debated film of the year. Despite their predilection for hamming it up in front of home-movie cameras, the Friedmans were a normal middle-class family living in the affluent New York suburb of Great Neck. One Thanksgiving, as the family gathers at home for a quiet holiday dinner, their front door explodes, splintered by a police battering ram. Officers rush into the house, accusing Arnold Friedman and his youngest son Jesse of hundreds of shocking crimes. The film follows their story from the public's perspective and through unique real footage of the family in crisis, shot inside the Friedman house. As the police investigate, and the community reacts, the fabric of the family begins to disintegrate, revealing provocative questions about justice, family, and - ultimately - truth.