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Reference Type The Newsletter of Advocates for Survivors of Child Abuse (ASCA) journal
Title Movie Critique: Mysterious Skin
Author(s)Cathy Kezelman
Publication Date 01-09-2005
Page Number 7
Comments A most inspiring and powerful opinion piece written to the Office of Film and Literature Classification in response to the film Mysterious Skin.
Synopsis One of the most powerful articles I did read was written by Dr. Cathy Kezelman, the Chairman of the ASCA (Advocates for Survivors of Child Abuse), a medical practitioner and a survivor of childhood sexual abuse.(LINK TO ARTICLE – BONZA THIS) Kezelman attended the Q&A session with Gregg Araki after watching ‘Mysterious Skin’ in Sydney. She describes the film as “…a most important film” which “deserves to be acclaimed and needs to be seen.” Kezelman argues that “If people watching the film feel uncomfortable, so be it. It is an uncomfortable topic and the victims feel far more than discomfort.” Kezelman describes the film as an “…honest, sensitive, and realistic portrayal of the story of two boys, each of whom is sexually molested by their Little League Coach.” Kezelman defends the film’s non-graphic, sensitive depiction of what she views as a subject or a “crime, which has thrived on secrecy and shame for too long.” She explains, “This film depicts the types of struggles victims face as well as the intensity of those struggles. At no time is the film sensationalist, voyeuristic or exploitative. All sexual encounters are implied; none are explicit.” In what appears to be an indirect response to Richard Egan’s “how-to-manual” for paedophiles, Kezelman rebuts this by claming;

“I do not accept that this film would in any way incite paedophilia – paedophilia is a shocking fact of our society and the film isn’t telling anyone suffering from these perverted tendencies anything new. Rather, it could provide a wake-up call as it shows the victim’s ongoing suffering in graphic terms.”

Kezelman concludes her highly inspirational and passionate letter to the Office of Film and Literature Classification by writing the following statement;

“In our society, we as adults need to be informed and have a right to see films which responsibly deal with contentious issues. This is a film which validates survivor’s suffering. Many survivors would choose not to see it – they don’t need it. They know the impact of their experiences all too well. It is the general public who needs to be shown. Childhood sexual abuse exists. Sexual violence exists. It is time for us to face these issues, not censor them.”
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