Last night on BBC 2 Louis Theroux graced our screens on his much talked about, controversial, new documentary. Based in California, Coalinga Hospital homes over five hundred convicted sex offenders.
The documentary sheds light on the mysterious question...'what happens to them after they're convicted'. Well, they play guitar, partake in Halloween parties, play sport as well as partake in intense therapy every day.
The usual 'On the fence, English gent' that we know Louis to be clearly felt uncomfortable in these surroundings and one has to congratulate him for finally challenging his subjects with blunt questions.
Theroux interviewed several paedophiles including Mr Rigby, a former junior athletics coach who lured the young into taking part in sexual initiations. Mr Lamb, who confessed to molesting 50 children. One man had undergone castration in an attempt to secure his release.
Even though, most of the men speak profoundly & honestly about their 'disorder' it just doesn't seem genuine. It's almost like they have memorised these lines from their psychotherapy sessions. It's all a bit strange and fake.
This documentary casts off forever any memories of Theroux's earlier career of moving in with D-listers and getting us to laugh at them, he spent a week almost living with paedophiles in a Californian hospital.
Having said this, the documentary as a whole is petrified of these men and lacks any perceptive insights. Instead, there is the obvious, these men are child like themselves, these men are in denial, these men will never be free etc. The efficient editing and Theroux's attempts to imitate the wondrous Nick Broomfield was obvious from the beginning.
None the less, this documentary undoubtedly reached in over 2 million viewers due to the subject matter. I feel like Theroux has no passion for telling stories nor does he have an opinion. He has been quotes saying: 'When I work, I like to be invisible'. Some may say this is key in becoming a documentary film maker as you get more out of your subjects...
However, I think there is a moment when your increasing absence contaminates an investigative documentary. Thereoux is a total bore following the Broomfield trend of interesting subject matter.
If you would like to watch the documentary please click here.
2 comments:
great blog! Nick Broomfield is in a whole other league, Louis is a wana be with no talent
I would liked to have seen "Louis Therous: A Place For Paedophiles," but missed it. And now it's apparently no longer available on BBC iPlayer. Is this programme still available somewhere else?
brassman7c@live.com
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