Capturing the Friedmans
An Oscar nominated documentary about a middle-class American family who is torn apart when the father Arnold and son Jesse are accused of sexually abusing numerous children. Director Jarecki interviews people from different sides of this tragic story and raises the question of whether they were rightfully tried when they claim they were innocent and there was never any evidence against them.
Run time: 107m Tagline: Who do you believe? Release: 2003-05-30
Director: Andrew Jarecki
Stars: Arnold Friedman David Friedman Elaine Friedman Jesse Friedman Seth Friedman
The Iceman and the Psychiatrist
For the third time, HBO cameras go inside Trenton State Maximum Security Prison--and inside the mind of one of the most prolific killers in U.S. history--in this gripping documentary. Mafia hit man Richard Kuklinski freely admits to killing more than 100 people, but in this special, he speaks with top psychiatrist Dr. Park Dietz in an effort to face the truth about his condition. Filled with more never-before-revealed confessions, it's the most chillingly candid Iceman special yet as it combines often-confrontational interview footage between Kuklinski and Dietz with photos, crime reenactments and home movies that add new layers to this evolving and fascinating story.
Run time: 48m Release: 2004-06-01
Director: Arthur Ginsberg
Stars: Park Dietz Richard Kuklinski
Last Letters Home
Ten families read letters from their loved ones killed during Operation Iraqi Freedom in this powerful and moving HBO documentary by Oscar and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Bill Couturie (Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam). Photos of the soldiers in military and civilian life are shown as family members read the final correspondence received from Iraq and share their thoughts and memories about the fallen troops and the realities of war.
Run time: 60m Tagline: They gave their lives, we honor their words. Release: 2004-11-11
Director: Bill Couturié
Stars: Lloyd Byers Mary Byers
Twist of Faith
A man confronts the trauma of past sexual abuse as a boy by a Catholic priest only to find his decision shatters his relationships with his family, community and faith.
Run time: 87m Release: 2005-07-04
Director: Kirby Dick
Stars: Jeff Anderson
Ghosts of Abu Ghraib
An examination of the prisoner abuse scandal involving U.S. soldiers and detainees at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison in the fall of 2003.
Run time: 78m Tagline: Facing The Darkness Within Release: 2007-01-01
Director: Rory Kennedy
Stars: Israel Rivera
Coma
Four young Americans who've each suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury emerge from their comas at a New Jersey medical facility. Their eyes may be open, but now the real challenge for each of the patients, their families, their doctors and their therapists begins. Brain healing isn't predictable, we're told, and certainly is not guaranteed. So with each 'major' step forward that is observed (opening one's eyes, bending a thumb upon command, vocalizing a word, answering a question correctly) comes a sense of jubilant relief and hope from the families of these patients, but as we soon see, the more a patient progresses, the more difficult things can be for all involved. Moments of faith & hope contrast with disappointments & frustrations, moments of confidence with moments of doubt. It's difficult to watch, and unimaginable to have to ever live through.
Run time: 120m Release: 2007-07-04
Director: Liz Garbus
Stars: Al'Khan Edwards Lynda Delorenzo