Film Review--Capturing the Friedmans

Capturing the Friedmans
directed by Andrew Jarecki

The Friedmans are very much a typical Jewish family. They are tight knit and Arnold, the patriarch, is well respected and deeply loved. The film focuses on the bond between father and sons as they are described as sharing many outstanding moments together doing nothing in particular. Arnold has enjoyed a fulfilling life of work, family, and unerring calm; he once headed for the hills of the Ozarks to fulfil a dream of playing in a Latin ensemble in which he was the prominent figure. Everything about the family is ordinary in every way. Much of their life is documented by the eldest son, David, who seems keen to keep a record of family get togethers-- picnics, parties, and such. Arnold has spend much of his later years teaching first piano and then computers to the local children. By all accounts he is great with the kids and none of the parents have any complaints.

Arnold Friedman does, however, hide one dirty little secret that gets the attention of the police. He attempts to secure a copy of a specific magazine that contains pictures of naked little boys out and about. The authorities search his home and find a rather considerable stack of similar magazines hidden none-too-well by the family’s piano. They also find a list of names of children who have taken Arnold’s course and they decide to do some checking up with the kids. What they discover upon interviewing several children startles them considerably and shortly thereafter Arnold is being questioned and arrested charged with several accounts of sodomy and various other improprieties. In all there is a massive list of charges and the resultant publicity rocks the small town as one might expect. Still, there is much more to come as youngest son Jesse is also charged with an astounding number of offenses that would have him buggering young boys every day for several months.

The film simply shows how the family lives and how their own interconnectedness is ravished by the allegations. It doesn’t absolutely convict Arnold but rather reveals a man who appears to slowly shrink away throughout the commotion. There are several shots of Arnold looking for all the world like the noose is already about his neck. He is framed alone on several occasions by David, who remains ubiquitously behind the camera, as if to reveal something profound about his father’s condition.

David and his mother Elaine are interviewed for the film. David does not believe that either his father or brother did anything wrong. Elaine is more reticent and seems to waver about her assessment of the horrors that have befallen her family. There is a lot of fighting captured by David and much animosity. David himself appears to loathe his mother for giving up on Arnold like she does while attempting to make sense of the whole ordeal.

There is a great amount of footage tracking the Friedman’s life at various stages. One gets the sense of unity amongst the boys and a rather unmistakable lunatic streak that has them performing odd little skits throughout. They don’t appear to be particularly troubled as adolescents although this is not necessarily something that can be readily captured by a film camera. Still, they are jaunty, vivacious, and seem genuinely content with what amounts to their lives. Arnold comes off as a doting father and a family man who is the picture of health.

It is revealed by Arnold to Elaine that he indeed fooled around with a boy earlier in his life. Elaine doesn’t act on this information although she appears to be horrified later when she finds out that it was two boys and not one.

There is so much awkwardness in the home made films. There is a bit of overkill to them but at their core they convey a family who is not aware of itself as subjects for the camera’s eye to manipulate and edit as necessary. They don’t move with any particular grace or style and subsequently much of the filming comes across as exceedingly trivial and unnecessary. It’s just like much of the footage from other families who do not know how to act as if someone is watching most likely because they do not know somebody is.

There are myriad ways to attempt to explain the behavior of a pedophile who allows his keen interest to be actualized in actual physical intimacy with a subject. The leap from images to carnal behavior is probably much greater than most people want to admit. Still, Arnold took that terrible leap and somehow, according to the police and the courts, managed to keep his activities hidden from his wife and at least two of his sons. If all charges are true, he sodomized youths while she was carrying on perfectly unawares in other areas of the house. As was her son Jesse who is said to have brutalized his targets as well as sexually assaulting them.

The film makes it a point to include references to the McMartin pre school sexual abuse case. It’s significant because in that case the testimonies of the children were the only evidence produced by the prosecutors and ultimately none of the defendants were convicted. It has been shown that children can be persuaded to satisfy the preconceived intentions of those who are asking the questions. This inclusion vaguely puts the charges against Jesse in doubt. They suggest a sexual sadist with an insatiable sexual appetite. He is portrayed in the film as a decisively meek, somewhat scared individual and the courts determine him to be something of a monster. He proclaims his innocence and sticks with his story until the end. It is important to note that none of the alleged victims ever said a word to their parents about what it is claimed was done to them. Despite apparently being physically, emotionally, and sexually abused for hours while at the Friedman’s home, they went home as if nothing was amiss. Yet, in interviews, enough of them were able to describe perfectly ghastly events that had gone on when they were supposed to be learning about computers.

We learn about specific aspects of the alleged abuse from those who claim to have been victimized by either or both Arnold and Jesse. Now an adult, one of these victims declares that there was much more going on then had ever been suggested by any of the other kids. His tale seems to fit in with potentially hysterical recounting of events. There were others who proclaim that they saw nothing untoward happening and that their experiences with the Friedman’s were quite enjoyable. What it comes down to is who is to be believed. Arnold pleas guilty and is sent away for the rest of his life. He claims to have done so only to keep his son from the same fate. If so, that’s an awfully lame reason to throw your life away, however close you claim to be to your son. Jesse is pretty much convicted before the case ever makes it to court. Those who are claimed to have sexually abused children get no sympathy in any sector of society and even a not-guilty verdict is not enough to protect the alleged abuser from an exceedingly harsh fate. Just the suggestion is enough to destroy a life.


This film impresses upon the viewer a sense that there is truly no way to tell who is diddling about with the kiddies and who isn’t. It also strongly conveys the stark reality that most abusers are well known to their victims and have established both a realm of trust and authority with them. Arnold grooms his victims like all sexual predators do. He warms them up with naughty computer games, no doubt shows them various images to illustrate how his designs on them is perfectly normal, and somehow persuades them to help satisfy his errant longings.

Overall, this film reveals a pervasive sickness that only appears to be spreading. It shows one ordinary man, a humble man, with an appetite for young boys, and seemingly no lack of opportunity for securing them. The film does not judge Arnold or Jesse and instead lets the viewer take on that task. Personally, I wasn’t presented with all of the data so I cannot pass judgment. The film doesn’t make a case either way so I can’t rely on that either. However, I know emphatically that appearances are often deceiving and that any one person is capable of the most hideous act. Jesse may seem harmless but his sexuality might and probably is completely bent and it makes sense that he might decide to take it out on young boys. Especially considering how he claims to have fallen prey to his own father’s insatiable lusts as a child.