This is a magnificent drama, and one of the best I have seen for many years. It is based on a true story. A family running a pre-school are accused of child molestation. The vicious public and press hysteria show how accusations can lead to the ruination of so many lives, whether or not the accusations are true. In the movie we see how the prosecution gets caught up in the mass hysteria and through politics and emotions they try everything to secure convictions against the accused. From the point of view of defense lawyers the picture shows how difficult it is to get juries to acquit people when facing such charges and despite the evidence for not guilty verdicts. The trial of the accused takes center stage in the movie and the actual transcripts of the trial are used in the picture. If that is the case then there is no doubt there was insufficient evidence to find any of the accused people guilty, but watch the film to see if that actually happened. The script, direction, acting, editing and everything else in the film is superb. It had me on the edge of my seat throughout its' more than 2 hours. I thought the outstanding acting performance came from Mercedes Ruehl playing the lead prosecutor. Well done to HBO for making this superb masterpiece. 10/10.
Review of Indictment: The McMartin Trial
