The inherent discomfort that comes with discussing child sexual abuse outside of hushed whispers is part of what gives it the power it wields. The new autobiographical documentary Rewind from first-time feature director Sasha Joseph Neulinger seeks to take away some of the stigma associated with this crime by bravely exploring the tragic abuse the young filmmaker experienced as a child. While dramatic in its own right, Sasha structures this feature as something of a mystery that ratchets up the raw tension that this story is able to conjure. Through a mixture of new interview footage and haunting home movies, audiences are given an insight into the destructive nature of abuse and how it splinters out to unexpected places. Home movies are intended to capture the most joyous, memorable moments of your life, but what Sasha finds on his journey into the past is something far more powerful than you can imagine.
From the moment Sasha was born in 1989, his father Henry has fervently documented their lives with a camcorder in tow at every turn. A story is even told about Henry showing up late to the birth because he went out to purchase this device with the joking intention of becoming “the most documented family in the world.” While such footage is wonderful for a documentary, it was not always so easy for those living through it, especially Sasha’s mother Jacqui who bluntly calls the camera “a wall” between the family and Henry. Early scenes show Sasha spending time with his extended family during events such as birthday parties and holidays. For the longest time, audiences are left to ponder what actually happened and who is involved. The answers to these questions are not straightforward enough to even risk spoiling the reveal. What we do know is that early in his life Sasha was on track to be among the most gifted children in his class, but a stark change in demeanor pointed to a seismic event that completely upended this innocent life.
Filmmaker Sasha should be commended for so elegantly telling the story of young survivor Sasha. The film bounces back and forth between the horrors of the past while searching for understanding in modern times. One of the most rewarding aspects of the film is the conversation he has with his childhood therapist who helped get him to a place where he could discuss his abuse. The spotlight that is put on childhood drawings shows the pain and rage that was pulsing through this young person, not to mention the fear that was instilled in him if he thought about telling his truth. You can clearly tell the difference between the time when he was still an innocent kid and the footage from the stage in his life when he was acting out his feelings. The moments where he would explode and immediately apologize for “doing something bad”. Sasha also presses his parents just enough to get some insight into what was going on in their heads at the time, such as why they did not open a closed door when Sasha was alone with someone they considered harmless. One of the most haunting moments of the film comes when Jacqui tells a story about Sasha believing his mom was going to kill him when she took him to a secluded park.
The film is not just a film about one specific instance of abuse, but rather the cycle of abuse that blooms and spreads over generations. As Sasha’s therapist so bluntly puts it, “it’s the gift that keeps on giving.” It is not just that people who abuse others have often been abused themselves, but also people who have been abused typically believe that the abuse is often contained to them, which leaves them wanting to suffer silently rather than bring the ugly truth to life. Rewind also touches upon some elements that were explored in the recent Allen v. Farrow documentary series about the trauma that is caused by a child having to recount their testimony to a litany of different strangers. You will be left exasperated at the legal system by the time Sasha is done trying to bring his abusers to justice in court. Yet the movie leaves you on a hopeful note that people like Sasha exist in this world to improve the processes of those who experience abuse. Rewind is not an easy film to live in, but it is very rewarding and emotionally devastating in the most appropriate way. Sasha Joseph Neulinger has taken something very personal and made it universal.
Video Quality
Rewind comes to Blu-Ray featuring a lot of different material in varying degrees of quality. It can be said with certainty that the movie itself and everything within it looks as technically excellent as it can look in high definition. This can be attributed to the fact that MVD Entertainment has delivered a great encode and given the film plenty of room to breathe. This company has been so great in this respect, and it is always appreciated. The archival tape footage used seems to be in the best shape possible given the quality of the source material. New interview segments look incredibly sleek and clear with natural skin tones and detailed facial features. There is no evidence of compression artifacts or other digital nuisances of the sort. I do not see how this could have been improved visually. It’s a real stunner as is.
Audio Quality
This Blu-Ray comes with a stellar DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that captures this story perfectly. Dialogue is the driving force of the film, and it comes through crisp and clear without being clipped by any competing sounds. The filmmakers do a really great job of capturing their subjects and making sure all this information comes through with supreme clarity. Even audio from the old video tapes comes through pretty clearly given the age and the format. The music and the score establish the mood of the film, and those sounds are resolved well here as music often sleeks throughout the room. The chatter in the background of some of the gatherings on tape provides a nice base texture to the proceedings. Ambient sounds from some of the environmental elements are precisely placed in the rear channels. The audio track is not pushed to the limit with this content, but it nonetheless proves to be an excellent sounding presentation for this feature. There are optional English SDH subtitles included for those who desire them.
Special Features
- Filmmaker Interview with Sasha Joseph Neulinger: A 30-minute interview with Sasha in which he discusses why he decided to make the film, the process of digging through his childhood, getting his family on board, the reception to the film, surprises he found in the old home video tapes, his work with the child advocacy center and much more. This is a pretty excellent supplement to the film.
- Photo Gallery: A collection of behind-the-scenes images from the production of the film.
- Theatrical Trailer: A two-minute trailer that does clue you in on more than you might want to know heading into the film.
Final Thoughts
Rewind is a tough watch given its subject matter, but the power behind what Sasha Joseph Neulinger accomplished by confronting his past trauma is incredible. It is not only that the story is fascinating, but it is expressed in an inventive manner that keeps you glued to your screen from beginning to end. MVD Entertainment has provided this film with a Blu-Ray that sports a strong A/V presentation and a supplemental interview with Sasha that is well worth a watch. If you are a documentary fan open to uncomfortable subject matter, this film will knock you out. Recommended
Rewind is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: MVD Entertainment and FilmRise have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
