Not in My Family

Usually my favorite movies are the True Stories kind as put out by Odyssey. But this is one which has nothing going for it. From what I understood its about a woman who attends a sort of Primal Therapy course and suddenly starts remembering things from her past about her own father-who just happens to be one of the town's prominent citizens. So far its like fiction yet for what its worth it happened. But so what-the world is full of men who abuse their own daughters and its something which I reckon deserves castration. The danger now is the old urges may have returned and there's a grandchild who at one stage is seen trying to kill herself! Whether it happened or not the movie made about this event is done as a "by the numbers" one.There's no drama there's nothing only the feeling you have just been bored stiff for nearly 2 hours

I can't believe all of the negative comments I have read. We need more movies about this subject and this one is quite realistic as far as how birth and another events trigger memories of sexual abuse. I can only guess that these comments come from people who are completely ignorant about the epidemic of childhood sexual abuse or too uncomfortable to face it. For those of us who have lived through this nightmare, it is validating to see the issue addressed. It sounds like some here would like to see the good old days return; where no one spoke about abuse. Childhood sexual abuse is at the root of so many problems in our society that you would be shocked, if you weren't so busy hanging on to beliefs that make you comfy.

After reading a rather rabid comment on this movie I feel compelled to write my recommendation. This movie is well written and performed. Unfortunately these things do happen as described in the film and I could not think of a better way to portray them than was done here by the sensitive performances of all involved. Especially Dina Merrills' role as a wife and mother so steeped in denial that you know she will go to her deathbed without ever getting real. Frustrating to watch and unimaginable to think of actually living through. This movie has a tough subject that I am sure was no picnic for the cast but I believe they did some good here.

The issue here is too sensitive, delicate, outrageous and vital not to be discussed. Here it is all brought into the open in a most painful process, and the reason for the daughters to bring it into the open is their urge to move on and save their lives and marriages. The problem is, that bringing it into the open will not make the problem vanish. The two daughters will have to continue living with it through all their lives, a trauma like this cannot be stamped out or ignored, it is like a brand forever, and you will confront it every day of your life, no matter what proceedings are taken to do away with it.

The psychology here is extremely interesting. The younger daughter, like her brother, is happily married and comes down with a daughter, and there the problems start, as her old father gives a present to his granddaughter, which for some reason causes the fresh mother to get glimpses of long repressed memories, which won't leave her alone. She goes to her sister to get some explanation of unexplainable reminiscences, and the sister has corresponding memories. Then their brother has a five year old daughter, with whom her grandfather wishes to play... It's a marvellous script, almost built up like a Hitchcock thriller, it's a psychological drama of purely domestic concerns, but every actor is just perfect and totally credible: the old man as a successful prominent business man of some public influence, his wife the old mother who refuses to believe anything out of order, the happily married son who is walking in his father's footsteps suspecting nothing, the elder daughter who has had her life shattered by her childhood experience, and the new young mother, who is reluctantly brought to face the most difficult trauma that could occur in a family.

It's an important film for bringing up the issue and going through with it thoroughly, although there is no end to the consequences.

I watched this movie on Lifetime the other day, and I liked it. It was very deep, dealing with some issues that aren't usually aired out for everyone to see. I admire these people who put together this movie for speaking out about this kind of abuse, because it happens today, and it is, as one character in the movie is quoted as saying "A heinous crime." It's a movie that offers some kind of hope--that it's never to late to speak out, and it's worth it, no matter what. I like it, not because I found it entertaining or intriguing, but because of its straightforwardness. Good work.