In Sasha Joseph Neulinger’s Rewind, the power of hindsight is in revealing warning signs we missed. With the help of family videos, the film shows Sasha’s childhood shift from tender to volatile over a period of a few years. But as the film tries to make sense of his psychology, we learn Sasha’s painful secret: the ongoing sexual abuse he was subjected to at the hands of several family members. What follows is a series of revelations about the family’s history of abuse, and unjust legal proceedings in caring for child victims. Recalling the intimacy and frankness of other family relationship documentaries such as Tarnation and Capturing the Friedmans, Rewind gives brave voice to a survival story told by Sasha and his family. What starts as a cautionary tale about the capacity for those closest to us to cause grave harm, the film is ultimately about personal resilience and a demand for a better justice system.

In competition for the Best Documentary Award

Director Sasha Joseph Neulinger is expected to be in attendance on January 7 and 8.