Murder on Middle Beach - Auf der Suche nach der Wahrheit

I'm sitting here at a loss trying to put into words how much this documentary series has impacted me. I don't know that I can adequately describe it. I have never seen anything like this series. I had to write a review to let others know to watch this masterful piece of work. There is such an emotional payoff but it will wreck you at the same time. At this point, I will watch anything that Madison Hamburg makes in the future. He is so gifted and talented and I'm astounded at how intimately he conveyed his pain and loss and brought the viewers into his family. The level of vulnerability and courage that took just astounded me. I can't wait to see what he does next.

Madison Hamburg and his crew did an incredible job documenting his extensive investigation on the MOST difficult of subjects. Well worth the five hour watch

I felt compelled to step in after reading some of these other reviews, which just seem needlessly harsh because they can't look past this kid's background and evaluate the storytelling.

To be fair, I agree with what some have said about the first episode being a bit slow. It hits many story beats that are now well worn territory in the true crime genre.

It definitely picked up a lot in the second episode for me though and I'm hoping the momentum continues. Other than the murder mystery (which I get the sense is unlikely to be solved by the end but who knows), what is mainly keeping me interested is the family dynamics that were kept secret from the filmmaker for most of his life, that he is now slowly uncovering. It definitely provoked a feeling I would bet that most people can relate to - how you can come to see your family in a different light once you have some distance from the innocence of your youth, for better or for worse.

At the end of episode 2, I went to play the next episode and was disappointed to find out that it hadn't been released yet. Overall, I'm excited to watch more and see where this is all going!

I loved this documentary. So engaging and twist-turning. I am hoping for a follow-up at some point in the future!

The opening episode is, perhaps deliberately, misleading. We have a young filmmaker (whose talent becomes evident as the film stretches over several years) making a movie--perhaps a class assignment--about his family. A family where his mother was brutally murdered when he was 18 years old. It's understandable that a young filmmaker would focus on what is most important to him. It is unusual that it turns out that his mother's unsolved murder would be his choice. Few families have such material at hand. And slowly, and cunningly, as details of what appears to be a family living the American dream of privilege despite a divorce, there's a dark center that's revealed more and more with each episode. The construction of the film is masterful. It would be interesting to know why the filming stops from time to time. Is it too painful? Are the revelations that are uncovered (for the audience) too threatening? But we're lucky Madison Hamburg returns to his camera and the story. He's made a sensational documentary about some very "layered" individuals who just happen to be his relatives.

It's not important that the audience shifts (often quickly) about who might be murderer. The crime scene indicates "passion" and "shame" over the killing. But when a close family member reveals she's sought out a "hitman" as well as other sensational facts that shift suspicion--convincingly and dramatically--propelling the film to its next even more sensational episode.

HIs mother is not simply a "lady who lunches." Although she does but with a very sinister twist. Yet all those interviewed seem to be making an effort to be sincere due to their love for the victim and the filmmaker. The veneer everyone presents is very convincing. Then that's exploded by the next interview. The police (surreptitiously taped) become frustrating in the casual pursuit of the solving the crime. It all puts the viewer in a state of conflict since we're used to looking for the one "bad guy" who committed the crime. We're given a very clear picture of some very flawed people who are trying their best to move on.