User reviews

This is stunning to watch in this format, all together and in your face. What a true American disgrace. One of the best docs in a few years. You walk away hoping for change but knowing it will be hard to see past this one.

Nassar speaking in his letter about scorned women is the essence of the phenomenon: if men can't have their way with women/girls, then the latter will act out of scorn. Men are never guilty. At the most, they are sick. There's always an excuse. But this is inexcusable. And a lot of- apparently- decent people will support this type of attitude; and will speak in favour of the abusers, either knowingly or unknowingly. And victims are gaslighted into silence. Others don't even realize the abuse.Do you know where I happened to notice a rather similar way of inappropriately touching? In gyms, where some personal trainers tend to have too much physical contact with their female clients. This film should be shown in all schools, so girls become aware of what is/isn't acceptable and where the line must be drawn, before it's too late.All those girls put up a strong smile, but how much has it cost them? Watch again, please, at 1:17:00, the expression on the face of the former president of MSU- a woman- when asked about compensations: " ... includes past expenses." with that condescending raised brow, as if to say: "Yeah, yeah, I know it's all about money..." Not all the money in the world can ever compensate the harm that predator did, with the ample complicity of his milieu. The father who committed suicide, I get it. The father who lunged at Nassar in Court, I get that too. What I don't get is how the Nassar specimen escaped any physical abuse, how no one spit him in the face- at least. I hope he'll get his due in prison, though. I also hope that all the others who stand trial will get what they deserve. In this appalling instance, the victims are the only ones whose innocence cannot be denied.

Interesting documentary. Larry Nassar is guilty, and deserves to spend the rest of his life in jail.

Unfortunately, Nassar is responsible for 99.9997% of the sexual abuse in the sport, but only about 2% of the overall abuse. The other forms - Physical, Mental, Emotional, Medical - will continue. The USOC, USAG, NCAA, Michigan State University, Academia-at-Large, NBC, ESPN / Disney, GE and a host of Fortune 500 sponsors and hangers-on, have their Fall Guy and they're sticking to it.

First I must say I am a male , and can not imagine what these women have gone through. I will keep it short, but the women who came forward and participated in this are amazing. This guy Larry Nasser is a bully and disgrace to the human race. This film was unbelievable and raw. It did not hold back or hide any organization above the other. They were all guilty . From the USAG to MSU and the youth groups. They all hid the truth about this monster. The dominos continue to fall on this earth shattering story, and more and more people and organizations are going down, and rightfully so. Laws were passed and it seems that the entire sport is going through a total reformation. This is a must watch and god bless the victims of this monster and all his "co defendants" . They are all getting what they deserve.

I've watched over thousands of movies, hundred of documentaries and this one was the most powerful profound documentary I have watched since dear Zachary A letter to a son about his father. I cried through this because I too have been there. These girls they are true heroes. They gave all the other women a voice. The voiceless became heard. Please just watch it. Please just become better.

A superb film, meticulous in explaining how a pedophile operated, and how enablers in positions of high responsibility allowed him to victimize hundreds of people for about two decades. We see from this film what a blessing it is that courtroom trials are routinely videotaped for the historic record. The structure of the film is excellent, first introducing us at proper length to the joys of athleticism and the commitment required, and then how the predator won the trust a vulnerable population, culminating in the courtroom drama, the victim impact statements especially. In contrast to a perpetrator who was entirely self-interested and self-involved, this movie puts the victims front and center - it is their story. The picture does not overly advocate for them (the facts do that), it simply gives them a voice, after decades in which they were not listened to, or were not believed, or were not protected. Finally, it's a constructive report: We come away knowing pretty much exactly what we all must do - as individuals and institutions - to prevent future life-long injury to each other, in this case to one of the many acutely vulnerable groups in our community.

There's impact in numbers and that's apparent here even when it shouldn't be. It was nauseating listening to the things Nassar did to these young women-but I found it incredibly moving how the voice of one gave voice to many. I do hope that the changes that have been set in motion actually pan out and real change can be made. As a documentary, this was well put together and the emotional beats are placed appropriately for the subject matter. If there's one thing I got from this that I hope others do as well, is that we need to do better when it comes to listening and offering support to people who place their trust in us and come forward.

Great Documentary Film by HBO Very shocking and sad case. 7/10

This a strong, powerful, and moving documentary. It wakes you up and puts you in alert, especially if you have kids like I do. It motivated me to aggressively continue my goals in becoming a police investigator to take down people who commit such insidious crimes. This documentary will impact you in some shape or manner.

Incredible eye opening documentary. Really well done. Makes you so proud of the girls who stood up there and addressed him and the court. Brought me to tears.

Very well done documentary, seems not missed much coverage. The sad part of it all is good majority of parents knew something was wrong or were told and still sided with doctor. The parents wanted the rewards of money spent on them, any medal standings, media acclaim. I can only image the fall out of most families after this came out. I would presume do to circumstances the doc is alone status cell away from all, so not killed in jail?! 7/10

'300'

A lot of people knew about this abuse but allowed it to continue in order to support their own greedy celebrity style status inside USA gymnastics. These people deserve their day in court and should be held accountable for their dis-action. They should never be allowed to work with children again. Period.

It broke me to tears. It was so sad when hearing story from the first woman who wasn't athlete, also Triene. Can't imagine how the victims, the family and the family of Nassar holding up.

The story is so powerful and raw. I never thought it would bring me to such emotion but the way it affected the lives of these women was so heartbreaking and shocking. What is even more shocking was the manner in which it was covered up for so many years. The Me Too movement is real and alive. We can o lot grow and learn from here as a society. These stories need to be told and this one was major shake up in our fabric of time. Well done.

"At the Heart of Gold: Inside the USA Gymnastics Scandal" (2019 release; 88 min.) is a documentary about the sex abuse scandal in the women's gymnastics world. As the movie opens, we hear Larry Nasser, in an interview dated December 6, 2013, claim "Gymnast first, gymnast first, gymnast first". We then get a general introduction into the competitive world of women's gymnastics, with its "no pain, no gain" culture, where young girls never complain, even when dealing with injuries, and ever thankful for the sympathetic ear of their team doctor, Larry Nasser. It isn't long before Nasser starts sexually assaulting them, claiming what he does is simply part of his medical treatment to get them better...

Couple of comments: this is another top notch documentary from Erin Lee Carr, who in just a few years has become one of this country's leading documentarians. Her other work includes 2017's "Mommy Dead and Dearest" and the just released "I Love You, Now Die", equally worth checking out. In this documentary, the film maker looks back at how it was possible for Nasser to get away with sexually assaulting gymnasts for as long as he did. We all know the big picture, but when it is laid out in detail and with clarity as Carr does here, it is devastating to watch. Let's be clear, this isn't just about the abuser. It's also a blistering indictment of all those enablers (looking at you, Michigan State University officials) who knew yet did nothing. When we get to the last half hour of this documentary, the focus is mostly on the victims and survivors, and rightfully so. I will admit to welling up as I was watching and listening to the multiple Victim Impact Statements. The presiding judge hits the nail on the head after Rachel Denhollander finishes her statement: "You have raised an army of women, and you are the 5 star general".

This documentary premiered at this year's Tribeca film festival to immediate and universal acclaim before going wide on HBO (I caught it on HBO On Demand the other day). It is not a coincidence that this movie is rated 100% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. Even if you think that you know what happened in this sexual abuse scandal, I'd readily suggest you seek this out, so as to give further exposure to these powerful young ladies who came out and spoke the truth. Thank you ladies, we are eternally grateful.

This documentary is so powerful, just like the women who suffered at the hands of an extremely wicked and evil man. It should be easier for women to speak up about trauma and have the trust that someone will not only listen, but do something to stop it. In reality, it just isn't. The adults who just ignored the problem, when the children (who could barely comprehend what was being done to them) were crying out for help infuriates me. It is hard for an adult to talk about sexual trauma, let alone children. The man who did this should never be able to pray on anyone, ever again. I applaud the women who came forward, and even the ones who didn't. You are all SURVIVORS. You are stronger than you could ever know.

I don't ever write reviews but this documentary was so incredibly powerful and it's so important. So many people don't believe children, blame victims, perpetuate culture and this shows what happens when people sit idly by and look the other way. The documentary went into how much many people and institutions in power didn't do anything / wanted this to remain a secret. Of course everyone liked this guy, he was a master manipulator and he groomed those around him and his victims to trust him so that he could continue to get away with abusing these girls and women for years. The women who came forward to make the investigation happen and spoke out in court are so incredibly strong and brave.

This Documentary shows how the system failed in protecting these victims from a monster predator and in fact enabled him to continue his abuse. My heart goes out to these survivors and there scarred psyche. This film had me openly sobbing for these brave girls/women. This should have never happened and I hope that all parties involved in the cover up be punished.

This film outrages, enrages and breaks hearts. The failure of those whose responsibility is to shield and protect. As well as the perversions inflicted by the perpetrator, will forever impact generations of gymnasts to come.

I won't congratulate Nasser's victims as some have. Their suffering is nothing to celebrate. Abuse robs choice; a victim can't choose not to be a victim or to be a survivor. Choice is taken by molesters and.being a survivor is a necessity, not an option. Nothing this pervert did van never be made a positive and to suggest otherwise is another trivialization of their victim's suffering. One prays for healing, but let's not insult them by.pretending that their lives are not forever changed. Like ripples from a thrown stone, the effects will forever impact the victims' lives and their sport.

This viewer was completely disgusted by the denial and.insulting behavior the officials in the governing bodies inflicted upon these traumatized gymnasts and their families! They not only enabled Nasser's crimes but knowingly permitted it to continue!

At one point in this film, a Michigan State official.explains that compensation will be made to survivors for therapy expenses when a victim interrupts with a question about girls who.already had to cover their own expenses for therapy. Instead of treating her with the respect and.deference entitled to her AS *THEIR* VICTIM, the despicable woman gives her an obnoxious response of.impatient, squeezed-shut eyelids and an. Oh-So-Inconvenienced And Put Upon tone replies "If you will read...." Essentially telling this already deeply wounded and permanently scarred.woman to shut up and wait on herself and quit bothering her, This Very Important Person From This So-Unjustly Persecuted Institution! HOW DARE SHE?! No EDUCATIONAL PROFESSIONAL who is responsible for the safety and welfare of her athletes and students should even think for one minute about inflicting this behavior upon the athletes she was supposed to serve and so thoroughly failed! Michigan, the U. S. Olympic Committee and USA Gymnastics are still infected with terminal cases of Still Does Not Get It!

To all of Larry Nasser's victims: I AM SO SORRY. *SOMEBODY* should apologize to you, and since they can't say anything but "we're sorry but....", I will. To those who failed to act - you are as guilty as he is. To these filmmakers and the judge who.did her job in the way the other adults should've but didn'T - Thank You.

This documentary is a must- see for athletes, although no.child should need to be warned about sexual predators in a place where they are supposed to be safe. It should be required viewing for all sports officials and coaches as a warning about what happens when a system breaks. Parents - watch this and ensure that your child never becomes a member of this group that nobody wants to and should ever be forced to join.

This is a memento of various women's Olympic dreams which were marred by indifference, callousness & bureaucracy; all of which happened in many organisations around the world, not least USAG, which was run like a company. The entire 85 mins was built on accounts provided by various victims with the last 25 mins devoted to victim testaments in the courtroom & the final verdict. You could feel the pain of some of the women, except one, a recent Olympian, behaved rather robotically and hair done and dressed like she was going to the Prom.

More than hundred of accusation and many detailing the sexual abuses endured by hundred of different children from all levels of competition (not only gymnastics). Furthermore there were footages showing the abuse at his disposal and yet you are still asking for fact? What facts do you need still? Due to your 'concern' for future physician or maybe it is because you are a physician yourself? The girls speak out after a long time because they did not fully grasp that they were being assaulted back when they were still prepubescent, those that did were brushed aside by the authorities. So stop being an ignorant fool yourself.