Rewind

You and your sister are so very brave. Thankyou for sharing your story

In this documentary, filmmaker Sasha Neulinger takes a brave, bold, and personal look at issues of familial child sexual abuse through his lens and the lens of his father, a videographer who scrupulously filmed family events around the same time as the abuse occurred. As a survivor, Neulinger shines a light on how this abuse can be passed down through generations, even among families that appear "normal" and successful. He also explores the ways in which the criminal justice system re-victimizes the survivor in its attempt to address the issue. Disturbing as the content may be, this film is definitely worth watching for anyone concerned about this important topic.

I'm so incredibly sorry to Sasha and his sister for the horrific abuse they endured, and no child should ever have to suffer in silence.

You've brought into the light that which has been buried in darkness, and have shone a brilliant light on to the path that can lead to healing and hopefully prevention of this occurring.

Please continue this important and worthwhile work you've done and continue lighting that path for others to find the courage to overcome these abhorrent crimes.

This was such a well-done and intimate story told in the most compelling manner; from start to end I found myself wholly immersed in the tale and filling with anger and rage at these monsters who betrayed this family. The storyline was concise, direct and makes you feel connected.

While it can be a very difficult story to tell and some tend to carry on with melodramatic and labored points- this absolutely gets to the heart and the soul and you're immediately awash in empathy, apathy and rage for these children and hope when you're left with the closure of the final scenes.

Again, a brilliant film and one that should be mandatory viewing for anyone who doubts this could ever happen to them/their children- because it's much easier than anyone wants to believe and within the blink of an eye, your family is thrust into a tumultuous and chaotic place from which few ever emerge unscathed.

Unflinching and uncompromising, Rewind is a documentary that isn't afraid to dive deep into the issues of abuse and trauma that it explores across its relatively brief 80 minute runtime as documentarian and main subject Sasha Neulinger delves into his own childhood and his families horrific experiences that spanned generations.

Given access to 100's of hours of home video footage that was shot by his various family members over the course of his childhood and teenage years, Rewind is a unique experience for both Neulinger and us as audience members as we witness first hand the effects of his traumatic childhood events take hold on him, despite these occurrences now years in the past.

Now an advocate and supporter of networks established to support those that have unfortunately become victims of abuse, Neulinger should be commended for opening up the wounds of his past to help heal the present and offer hope for those that to have had their childhoods sullied by the evil acts of others.

We bare witness to Sasha as a care free and happy natured boy that slowly but surely morphs into a repressed and angry being in past footage, while in more present day scenes Sasha interviews those that were prevalent in his life such as his mother, father, therapist and detectives that eventually worked on his case that made headlines across the globe.

Rarely have issues such as the ones raised in Rewind been so openly put forward on film and explored in such a no fuss manner, there's no hidden agendas here or ulterior motives that make themselves apparent, this is simply a warts and all expose of the long-lasting effects and first hand experiences that abuse has on its victims.

It's stirring stuff, heart-wrenching more often than not but its material and subject matter we as humans need to readily explore and understand as to this day actions that we see in Rewind remain far to common in today's society.

Final Say -

Tough viewing but the type of viewing that enhances ones understanding of issues that would be much easier to ignore than confront, Rewind is a gripping documentary and a hugely important one, with credit to Sasha Neulinger who was brave enough to embrace his own past for the betterment of the future.

4 roast turkey's out of 5

Incredibly well made film, especially considering the topic.

Dear lord I cried when that therapist guy talked about the yamaka, and several other times.