The Documentary 'Burden of Proof' is four hours long. With absolutely no reason to be more than - at a maximum - two. And that is its major failing. As I watched I found myself feeling that what I was seeing was something I'd seen before. And I had. In this very episode, or in one earlier. The same points are made again and again. And it's not as though it's a confusing story. It's not as though there are dozens of characters to keep track of. And this made me angry and impatient and I know that you'll feel that, as well. Who wouldn't?
The story is simple. When he was a teenager a man's younger sister 'disappeared'. Or was murdered. Or took her own life. And the man, now an adult and clearly very well off, has spent much of his life trying to uncover the answer. He believes he knows that answer, and early in the film tries to prove it. But as the story progresses he finds that the answer may not be quite so easily determined.
I gave the film as many as three stars because, at its heart, it's an attempt to make an important statement about forgiveness and family dynamics. The lead character's relationship with his parents is what the film's really about. But even here, the scenes with his parents are muddled and I had no idea, at the film's end, where those relationships were headed.
So please, don't waste your time. I mean, in the end, time's really all we've got.
The story is simple. When he was a teenager a man's younger sister 'disappeared'. Or was murdered. Or took her own life. And the man, now an adult and clearly very well off, has spent much of his life trying to uncover the answer. He believes he knows that answer, and early in the film tries to prove it. But as the story progresses he finds that the answer may not be quite so easily determined.
I gave the film as many as three stars because, at its heart, it's an attempt to make an important statement about forgiveness and family dynamics. The lead character's relationship with his parents is what the film's really about. But even here, the scenes with his parents are muddled and I had no idea, at the film's end, where those relationships were headed.
So please, don't waste your time. I mean, in the end, time's really all we've got.