Footsteps

Far from being incidental, the theme of continuing child sexual abuse *is* the story of "Footsteps." (Alternate title: "Expose.") A haunting, disconnected portrayal of the deep effects on the psyche of this type of abuse, the film itself takes on the characteristics of those sexually abused from a young age. The seemingly aimless, stilted, dissociative quality of the movie is a reflection of one of the main characters. Her story unfolds in an enigmatic fashion, deliberately drawing on one of the key aspects of the child victim's personality – the quest to be unknowable, yet cherished.

Although the sexual capriciousness shown in the movie often seems gratuitous, it is also tragically characteristic. Told on an 'insider' level, there is no psychiatric consultant on the side constantly interpreting the characters and events for us. Even though this movie leaves much to be desired, it is nonetheless compelling, in no small part due to the music of Amilia K Spicer, whose compositions imbue the viewer with an awareness of subtleties which the movie's characterizations do not satisfactorily express. The artists who perform 'Sodom' undergird the final moments with a sense of inexorable ruination, which nearly makes their acting out superfluous.

In spite of the fact that this film is often clumsy and superficial, and too thoroughly graphic, the compassion and purpose behind Daphna Edwards' effort shines through. Apparently, she took on this amateurish effort with a mission in mind. Those looking for mere entertainment will be unimpressed.

Whenever I see a movie that doesn't have a comment, I try to add one. A tough assignment for this nothing movie. The movie starts and ends like it is a "message" movie against the current system of returning battered children to their abusers. It's an interesting message, but the movie that occurs in between has nothing to do with it. It is kind of a whodunit, but the acting is so bad that it almost views like one of those softcore porn movies--it's just a little light on the sex for that style. Sandra Bernhard's acting is so stilted that it reminded me of a Saturday Night Live skit where they try to act badly. The daughter gives even the worst child actors hope.

It isn't even good bad TV because it tries to get all serious at the end with its child abuse message. Kind of a buzz kill if the ending unintentionally cracks you up the same way it with me.