Rewind

I watched this because of its %100 on Rotten Tomatoes, and my initial bias is to prove RT wrong. But the assembly of home videos as a backdrop to multigenerational trauma was very potent, and a good reason to keep watching creative documentaries.

I've said it before and I'm saying it again - no fictional movie will ever be able to match the power and authenticity of a good documentary - and I can already tell this is going to be an all-time great. It's one of those motion pictures where you're paralyzed for a few moments at its conclusion as you marinate in what you just witnessed. The brilliant use of home movies throughout is indispensable in allowing us to know the people involved on a much more personal level and therefore react to their drama in a truly meaningful way. Watching this reminded me a lot of my favorite documentary of all time, CAPTURING THE FRIEDMANS, which also dealt with family abuse but left a lot more unanswered questions. This is far from an easy movie to sit through, and it is uncensored but tactful in its descriptions of the events that make up the bulk of the story. And as we learn more about what's going on, it almost becomes too much to comprehend. Those easily upset or troubled by films involving young children may want to give this a pass - it is an unforgettable but truly devastating experience. And kudos to director Neulinger for not only having the bravery to relive the experiences of his past but to do so in a very cinematic and impressively shot film. This will be added to my list of the 10 best films of 2019.

Heartbreaking, shocking, emotional. Unbelievable story.

Fantastic doc about a courageous little boy who grew to be a strong man.

This film is genuine and deeply moving. A son's journey into the complex history of sexual abuse in his family. The first 30 minutes you're gripped trying to understand WHAT happened. The remainder of the film you're searching for an answer to HOW.

Rewind peels back the layers with sensitivity and compassion, revealing not only the abuse he suffered himself, but the abuse suffered by his abuser, and how such things are often passed down and around in families.

A documentary of abuse and courage.

I'm a bit surprised at how very positive the reviews are. I watched this at home and I got interrupted so I didn't get to see how it wrapped up, maybe that was necessary for a real appreciation. In short ... the subject matter exposed here was both important and overdue, and the real-life evidence of what abuse does to a child was absolutely, incontestably captured here. On that score, as well as my opened eyes and pity for the survivors, I'd give it five stars. However, I felt like it desperately needed editing. I found myself saying wait, who? Larry? Weren't we talking about Howard? Who's Stewart again? What's the timeline here? Why am I seeing this piece of footage again? Are we doing a reverb on this byte to show that people might have known but chose to walk away, or is it some other message I'm supposed to be inferring? The vital question of who abused Howard was brought up and then dropped (maybe it was eventually answered and I just didn't get that far?) So, summary, not enough clear timeline and personal background for a biographical documentary and not quite enough broad-info / professional explanation for a subject documentary either. However, if it helps other survivors heal, close or expose, then I'll add a star for that.

Absolutely a revolution on the topic.

First of all I think it is incredibly brave for Sasha to produce this documentary and be willing to share such vulnerable personal traumas. I think the documentary has a unique style, and as the movie progresses it allows you as the viewer to slower fill in the blanks. I would definitely recommend.