Burden of Proof

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.

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.

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.

Burden of Proof is an outstanding true crime series. I genuinely loved every minute of it and finished all four episodes in one sitting. I would consider on par with some of the best true crime documentaries.

I love how the investigation of this case actually takes place in real time, so we get to watch it unfold as the show was filmed over 7 years. This is an aspect of this series that makes it so compelling, and it is emblamatic of many of the best true crime documentaries. One example that comes to mind would be the Netflix series Making of a Murderer, and also some of the true crime classics like Capturing the Friedmans and The Thin Blue Line.

The production is excellent as it is clear the director and producer are deeply invested in this case, and it is clear that their primary goal is to get to the truth.

The producers go out of their way numerous times to try and track down everyone involved in the case so that they can give them a chance to tell their side of the story in relation to the case. At one point they even manage to track down a person of interest whom the police could not even locate for several years. And the filmmaker's also focus heavily on the family that has literally been torn apart by this tragic case for decades, but they do so in a way that is both objective and compassionate.

On top of that, this case turns out to be a huge mystery, with twists and turns that you will not see coming, and a motley crew of potential suspects.

Burden of Proof will tug at your hearstrings, but it is very entertaining because it covers such a fascinating mystery of a case. I was hooked after watching the first 15-20 minutes and did not stop watching until I had binged all four episodes.

Highly recommended.

This beautifully presented documentary is at once a profound family drama and a haunting mystery. Its themes range from coming of age feminine angst over first love lost to a dogged pursuit of elusive justice for a younger sister whose fierce light never dims for the older brother investigating her disappearance in the course of decades. Away at college when she simply vanishes from her bedroom one night, aged 15, he turns over every stone he can, sacrifices a relationship with his mother, and turns middle aged while believing that both his parents conspired to cover up their part in her loss. His own "side investigation" and the case authorities re-open at his urging unfold and show various facets, growing ever more complex, while his personal perspective slowly but surely begins to shift. So we, the audience, also grow in knowlege--and ultimately--in some measure, in wisdom. Pacing is wonderful, allowing for reflection, which continues after the credits have rolled.