The Keepers

In this seven-episode true-crime documentary from Netflix (released May 19 of this year), The Keepers explores the 1969 death of 26-year old Catholic nun and Baltimore schoolteacher Sister Cathy Cesnik and touches on 20-year-old Joyce Malecki's murder four days later. Both slayings remain unsolved. The cover up that follows has echoes of Spotlight (see my review of January 16, 2016).

Gemma Hoskins and Abbie Schaub, two retired 60-something grandmothers and former students of Sister Cathy's at Archbishop Keough High School, still feel disturbed by the almost-half-a- century-old cold case. Who savagely beat and then murdered beloved teacher Sister Cathy? Starting a Facebook group in 2014 to reach out to others to share information about Sister Cathy's murder, these two badass senior citizens–as intrepid and analytical as Agatha Christie's Miss Marple–uncover a cold case like no other that the Baltimore police or Catholic Church has had to contend with. Abbie and Gemma create a safe space for people who had been afraid to speak up. And the role of social media is astounding as a tool for criminal investigation. These two amateur sleuths use the internet brilliantly! See the entire review at: unhealedwound.com

I have always been greatly upset not only by the revelations of child sexual abuse by priests, but, worse, the attempts by the Church to protect their priests over their children. I believe that awareness is crucial to ensuring that we never let this happen again, so I appreciated this well-crafted documentary that gave me more hard, concentrated information about one case, examining the experiences of the victims, the impact on their lives and families, the position of the church, law enforcement, government. I personally believe in the credibility of the victims, applaud them for sharing their stories and their pain, and applaud the women who will not let Sister Cathy's murder be buried and unwittingly uncovered the abuse that I also believe was at the root of it. I see that some reviewers are dismissing their claims and therefore dissing the documentary. Careful here - the fact is that a good documentary is not meant to convince, but to make you consider and think, and this one definitely has.

Shook me to the core. Hope they rot in hell or die the most horrendous death ever.

This is a remarkable documentary. I am not going to talk about it too much (you will notice there is no Spoiler Warning here), because feel strongly that if you are thinking of watching it. Please do.

What you will see unfold before you is both horrifying and deeply moving. The human beings here searching for both truth and acknowledgment are just the most inspiring and brave people. It reminded me of why we (all of us) should never put all of our trust in powerful Institutions. We need to be vigilant. All powerful Institutions have a habit of lying to protect the Institution, rather than those they are supposed to serve.

It brings the news stories of survivors of abuse directly from the news to the personal. It packs one hell of a wallop.

I don't write reviews and yet here I am. This documentary is very addictive. My husband and I , both brought up Catholic in the 60's, couldn't stop watching. It sickens me and yet I know it's all true. It makes me hate the Catholic Church for all of their power and manipulation, with no regard for the Sanctity of human rights. Thank you to Ryan, the director of this masterpiece, to Jean and the others who are still trying to get to the truth. I couldn't get this film out of my head...it is transformational.