Burden of Proof

It is definitely an interesting and sad story but the interviews with the father, Ron, and his watered down Walmart-level 3rd wife are so unnecessary. Who need to hear from that couple? He's a felon and still acts arrogant although a christian? He's as trash as they come. That 3rd wife has absolutely no reason to talk about this issue at all. She should have been wiped from any footage. The other interviewees contributed more to this series and were much more interesting to watch. All the father contributed was his little man syndrome machismo.

The brother spending his life looking for his sister is just heartbreaking and his parents are the epitome of deplorable human beings.

This series reminds me of several Discovery Network (History Channel, NatGeo, etc.) shows. You know, the ones where the hosts go on expeditions to find lost treasure, ancient civilizations, evidence of paranormal activity, etc. And along the way, they sometimes discover the random coin, ancient tool or artifact, and maybe even a skeleton or two. But at the end of the show, you end up right back where you started - nothing solved, no huge treasure found. Case in point - "The Curse of Oak Island." They've milked this treasure hunt for 10 years and almost 170 episodes, and found the square root of diddley. This is what you have here, only it's FOUR hours long. This could have easily been condensed into an hour, maybe less. I could have given this production a pass for taking an hour of my time, but I really feel cheated about losing the other three hours. Its only redeeming quality is that it highlights how easily "investigators" from our law enforcement agencies can screw up a wet dream.

There are aplenty of detective shows with savant, heavily invested in truth and have always the right intuition. This true crime documentary puts you in the shoes of an a brother who is obsessed with finding out what happened to his missing sister, as parents suspected of crime against their own kid and detectives as they process the case.

This documentary is not just a mystery, but also a family drama and a psychological exploration. It shows how we can be biased, mistaken and misled by our own emotions and assumptions when we judge others. It also raises the question of what could happen when we are not patient and compassionate, but heavily biased, thinking the worst. It follows the folly with police process when not done correctly but also highlights some incredible techniques that are used.

The brother, Stephen, believes that his parents are somehow involved in his sister's disappearance. He thinks his father did something terrible and his mother helped him cover it up. He spends years trying get an answer in the way he likes, even at the cost of his relationship with his mother. He takes keen interest in the case police reopened and he conducts his own investigation, uncovering new evidence and secrets.

The documentary follows his journey as both a victim and an accuser, as well as the work of the police, who face challenges, errors and breakthroughs in their quest for justice. The direction is impressive, but not flawless. The series could be shorter and avoid some repetition. It could also give more insight into the bond between the siblings and what Stephen was doing when his sister vanished. The ending is powerful but unsatisfying, as it leaves many questions unanswered and many details unexplored. It seems like the makers have made up their minds about the case and do not want to share more information. Stephen gets some closure, but not the kind he expected.

Despite these flaws, the show is captivating and the ending is shocking. It will leave you wanting to know more about the case and its aftermath.

Put simply, and without a doubt: it's remarkable.

I don't watch much true crime, and yet I'm not sure that label really fits here. "Burden" is deeply humane, entirely un-sensational, and far more artful than anything I know of in that genre.

It's a special and gripping work, with a haunting though subtly conveyed reminder of the pervasiveness and elusive justice around partner violence.

And in terms of filmmaking craft, it's an impressive display of both endurance (the project stretches over nearly 8 years) and skill (cinematography is deft and compelling throughout).

It's worth your time. And you'll be thinking about it.

If you're expecting to watch 42 minutes and get the answers you're seeking, you're probably going to be this a '3'. This is more about a glance inside the agony of a brother trying to find answers to his sister's murder, than it is about satisfying the viewer's need for instant gratification.

If you appreciate exceptional film-making that captures raw emotion, ranging from hope to complete hopelessness, give it a shot. If you're looking for another true crime 'hit and run' then skip this one because it might be a waste of 4 hours for you.

I can't wait for a follow up to this documentary as the story is compelling.