Movies
TV Shows
People
30/05/2003 Documentary, Crime 1h 47m
71
User score

Who do you believe?

Overview

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.

  1. Andrew Jarecki

    Director

Top billed cast

  1. Arnold Friedman

    Self (archive footage)

  2. Elaine Friedman

    Self

  3. David Friedman

    Self

  4. Jesse Friedman

    Self

  5. Seth Friedman

    Self (archive footage)

  6. John McDermott

    Self - Postal Inspector

  7. Frances Galasso

    Self - Ret. Director, Sex Crimes Unit

  8. Anthony Sgueglia

    Self - Detective, Sex Crimes Unit

  9. Joseph Onorato

    Self - Asst. District Attorney

  10. View more

Full Cast & Crew

Reviews

A review by CinemaSerf
Written by CinemaSerf on 2026-06-21
The Friedmans are your stereotypical aspirational middle-American family with a mum, a dad and three brothers. Arnold is the dad: a pillar of the local community and music teacher; Elaine is the stay-at-home mother and Sam, David and Jesse are their children. They have a spacious home and are keen on making home movies to celebrate just about any occasion. Then their world comes apart at the seams. The authorities are informed that Arnold has been receiving some dodgy Dutch pornographic magazines and so after the gentlest of sting operations arrest him. He admits his misdemeanour, but it turns...read the rest
Read All Reviews

Recommendations

  1. Abducted in Plain Sight66%
  2. Aileen: Queen of the Serial Killers68%
  3. An Open Secret69%
  4. Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story62%
  5. Maternal Instinct72%
  6. Voyeur59%
  7. Girl in the Picture71%
  8. Ted Bundy: Mind of a Monster76%
  9. 9to5: Days in Porn58%
  10. The Crash69%
  11. Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer67%
  12. Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator63%
  13. Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart72%
  14. Out of Thin Air59%
  15. The Imposter73%
  16. Facing Ali73%
  17. Unknown Number: The High School Catfish67%
  18. My Father, the BTK Killer67%
  19. Untouchable65%
  20. Nail Bomber: Manhunt65%

Status
Released

Original Language
English

Budget
$0.00

Revenue
$4,076,990.00

Keywords