I remember when this came out and I thought it was amazing and disturbing and then I read an article about it in the newspapers, saying how this is untrue and nothing like this happens. I just remember thinking this person was so stupid. Obviously now with the time that has passed and the amount of stories we read in the papers from children dying of abuse he must now be eating his words.
shareI also remember that rubbish being said in the newspapers afterwards and I was livid about it. I even wrote to the offending newspapers and guess what - they didnt publish it.
I even remember commenting at the time that even if some elements of the film were "fictionalised" (which i doubt anyway) then its irrelevent as it brings home to the mass audience the things that can happen, and tragically is happening and if the response to watching such a film is increased vigilence and awareness of the sickness that often pervades society then the film has served its purpose.
I am shocked that a person that works for a newspaper is allowed to make a false statement like that. did they lose their job? I mean thier are hundreds if not thousands of children every day that suffer from abuse at the hands of another, its just another kick in the face to them.
just adding my 2 cents.
From Melanie USA
While I don’t know about the newspaper article you’re talking about, what I do remember is reading a cautionary note added to the summary in the TV section of the paper I read.
The point being made was that the social services department (from which he got the account) was rather peeved at the way the director presented it as ‘a true story’, when they had warned him that they had grave doubts about the allegations the girl had made. To put it bluntly, the officers actually concerned in investigating the case suspected she was making up at least some of it, which is why none of the persons involved were prosecuted. They suggested to the director he should pick a more credible, ideally proven, case, but he decided to go for one that was more spectacular instead, even though it wasn’t verifiable.
I could certainly sympathise with them. The director wasn’t someone who worked in the field, and had no personal experience; he just picked what looked like a powerful story to him, and wasn’t too bothered with whether it was true or not. This kind of approach is, I feel, a bad idea for a pseudo-documentary film, as it’s bound to undermine it.
Heaven knows, there would have been enough proven-in-court cases of child abuse for him to choose instead. Then he could have presented it as a true story without it being tinged with controversy.
And before you say ‘young girls don’t lie about sex offences’, read up about the Lesley Molseed case, in which three thirteen year old girls testified on oath that Stefan Kiszko had indecently exposed himself to them, testimony which was instrumental in having him wrongly convicted of Lesley’s murder. Girls who, as adults, AFTER he had been cleared, admitted they had made up the allegations.
No, I’m sorry, this particular film, while it obviously made me feel pity for the huge number of victims of child sexual abuse, also made me feel uncomfortable in a rather different way – about its veracity.
well it was a true story and if you watched it on 4od the director himself says he has had second throughts on if it was the right think as the press we trying to find the real girl the story was based on but she told him to make the film that it was important as for the papers telling lies theres a shock 90% in each days paper is made up crap
shareAs a survivor of child sexual abuse myself I will say that even people today don't believe it at times.
People don't want to believe this happens to those they know. I've spoken to girls who have told they were abused by someone they know and often met with disbelief.
Some still believe it is strangers who sexually abuse kids. Not a family member or trusted friend.
When I told my parents I was met with something like "But he is a doctor." Just because he was a well know respected man he couldn't have forced me to have sex with him.
Also others find it as nasty and don't want to hear it. I have a cousin who still looks at me in disgust. She can't stand the sight of me because I was abused. She won't even sit next me or walk next to me.
It is things like this that make it hard for survivors to tell. We know some people will find it easier to not believe it. Then if they do believe they will see us as dirty and nasty.