About Capturing the Friedmans (HBO)

"Capturing the Friedmans" is a gripping and resilient documentary by director Andrew Jarecki, which provides an intimate look into the disintegration of a seemingly typical American family. The Friedmans of Great Neck, Long Island were brought to the forefront of media attention in the late 1980s when Arnold Friedman and his youngest son, Jesse were arrested and charged with multiple counts of child molestation.

Making / Production

Originally, Jarecki set out to make a short film about New York City's most popular children's birthday party clown, David Friedman. However, he learned about David's family past which led to the creation of the documentary. The documentary is unique as it blends professional documentary footage with the family's home videos. The use of such unique narrative forms raises provocative questions about truth and representation.

Actors

• David Friedman - Playing himself, David offers insight into the family drama, revealing complex layers of family dynamics.
• Arnold Friedman - Playing himself, Arnold's character is at the center of the controversy, providing a tense and engaging character profile.
• Jesse Friedman - Playing himself, Jesse showcases a harrowing evolution from teenage innocence to a man deeply marked by his past.
• Elaine Friedman - Playing herself, Elaine provides a perspective of a mother and wife grappling with the accusations against her family.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The movie was initially planned as a "day-in-the-life" profile of the most popular clown entertainers in New York.
• David Friedman, the eldest son, has repeatedly insisted upon Jesse's innocence and sought to have his conviction overturned.
• The film includes nearly two dozen interviews with police detectives, journalists, lawyers, and classmates.

Awards

"Capturing the Friedmans" won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival in 2003. It also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature.

Quotes

• "I'm not the villain I've been made out to be." - Arnold Friedman
• "I was fourteen years old, and I was being accused of hundreds of forcible sexual crimes... I hadn't even kissed a girl yet." - Jesse Friedman
• "It's like ripping your life apart, but you still have to go on." - Elaine Friedman

Music, Soundtrack

• The film's soundtrack features a wide range of music from classical to jazz, fittingly complementing the volatile emotional landscape of the film.
• The soundtrack was released separately and included compositions by Andrea Morricone, son of famed composer Ennio Morricone.