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Top 5 Documentaries on Child Sexual Abuse
by Monykanchna Kunvuth
Disturbing as they are, cases on child sexual abuse pop up all over the place. This just goes to show you how sick people can be. All these five documentaries do more than just producing facts about abuse cases. They have their own way of provoking emotions, to trigger a need to make things better.
There may have been more than five documentaries out there concerning the issue, but I chose the top five for their distinguished stories and filmmaking styles. Although they share the same issue, these movies have their own individual uniqueness that separates one from the other.
An Open Secret (2014)
What distinguishes “An Open Secret” to the other four documentaries is that this one concerns child sexual abuse in Hollywood. Children with dreams of becoming big in the world’s largest film industry, have fallen prey to pedophiles with power and access to the decision-making of the child’s career.
The filmmaker managed to gather a number of former child actors to recount their stories for the film, regardless of the pain of recalling the past. The film does more than just telling stories of child abuse in Hollywood. It also discloses damages done to those former child stars who have suffered severe consequences of the abuse.
Tell Me Who I Am (2019)
“Tell Me Who I Am” is unique in more ways than one. It is about an abuse conducted by a close family member, told by a pair of victims who happens to be twin brothers. Rather than an investigative story, the documentary opted to narrate solely from the victims’ perspective, strictly allowing interviews of only the twins, Mark and Alex.
It is a very simplistic piece of film but incredibly powerful in storytelling. The documentary consists mostly of the brothers narrating their stories to the camera. Nothing much happens, but I keep going back and re-watching it. I don’t really know why. I guess it’s the film’s environment, the love between the two brothers, and the powerful effect of storytelling.
Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God (2012)
“Mea Maxima Culpa” is another documentary concerning child sexual abuse. At this point, you may ask, who in their right mind would want to put themselves through viewing another movie on such a disturbing subject?
There’s no need to watch another one. There’s no need to watch any of these at all. But if you’re interested or willing, I can tell you that although this movie involves similar subjects to the others, the distinguished factor here is the abuse was conducted by a priest towards deaf children.
The film conveys an entertaining storytelling despite its disturbing topic. More than merely presenting facts and figures with a bunch of talking heads, the documentary walks viewers through the sufferings and enlightens our understanding of the subject.
At the Heart of Gold (2019)
“At the Heart of Gold” tells a story of sexual exploitation on children within gymnastics field, which focuses mainly on abuser Larry Nassar, a former USA Gymnastics national team doctor.
Nassar was a well-respected doctor with impressive résumé. He had treated young athletes worldwide and was a constant volunteer in various communities. His glowing reputation was an ultimate key to abusing young female athletes.
Reading and viewing media coverages on child abuse always make my blood boiled, but this particular case makes me madder than the others. A documentary called “Athlete A” covering the same abuse case was produced a year after “At the Heart of Gold”. I managed to watch “Athlete A” but couldn’t bring myself to review another one concerning this case. If not necessary, I would steer clear of viewing either of these two films again.
Deliver Us from Evil (2014)
“Deliver Us from Evil” is another abuse-by-priests story, but what differentiates it from “Mea Maxima Culpa” is the confession, or rather a perspective of a pedophile priest named Oliver O’Grady.
“Deliver Us from Evil” and “An Open Secret” are both directed by Amy Berg. Her journalistic skill is absolutely on point. She dug deep and provided all sides of the stories. She interviewed victims, families of the victims, lawyers, all relevant organizations, and even managed to gather some perpetrators in.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Monykanchna Kunvuth runs katobiz.com, a site that dedicates to its motto “Drink. Read. And be entertained.” We sell drinking accessories and publish blog posts of three different sections—Book Reviews, Movie Reviews, and And Then Some.
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