Two Victims' Advocacy Groups Protest Documentary on Abuse
Posted Courtesy of The Post and Courier (http://www.charleston.net)
BY PRENTISS FINDLAY
Of The Post and Courier Staff
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences received thousands of letters from two victims' advocacy groups protesting its Oscar nomination of the documentary "Capturing the Friedmans," a local advocate said.
From Darkness to Light founder Ann Lee said members of her group and the group Stop Family Violence wrote some 18,000 letters about the content of the film, which concerns a Long Island father and son charged with multiple counts of child molestation. The film traces the unraveling of the Friedmans' lives in the wake of the charges as well as the troubling nature of the police investigation, according to a synopsis on the academy's Web site.
"I do believe that everybody should have an opportunity to tell their story," Lee said. "Our biggest concern is that (the documentary) really highlights what we feel like are huge myths in and around sexual abuse -- (that) if children were really being molested then they would tell while it was going on, (and that) they are making it up coming forward years later."
The groups hoped to run a 30-second public service announcement during the Oscar broadcast, but that didn't happen. "Capturing the Friedmans" did not win an Oscar, either.
But actor Tim Robbins touched on child abuse Sunday night when he accepted his Oscar for best supporting actor in "Mystic River." In the movie, he plays a character who was abused as a child. In his speech, he asked victims to come forward and get help.
Television viewers around the country see public service announcements for From Darkness To Light on CNN, CNN Headline News and the CNN Airport Network. The organization recently won a contest that brought the ABC daytime show "The View" to town. "The View" broadcast live from the College of Charleston Cistern. Actress Anne Heche recorded a new public service announcement for From Darkness To Light that began running on the Lifetime channel this week.
Prentiss Findlay covers television for The Post and Courier. Contact him at 937-5711 or pfindlay@postandcourier.com.
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