Part 3 of the Discover Documentaries Discussion Series with Award-winning Producer/Director Cindy Meehl
Sasha Joseph Neulinger, a filmmaker and a survivor of multigenerational child sexual abuse, utilized over 200 hours of home videos both to reconstruct his childhood, and to propel important conversations about his harrowing journey in the documentary, Rewind, which recently earned three Emmy nominations. Neulinger and Rewind Executive Producer Cindy Meehl will discuss the film virtually at the Mark Twain Library on Tuesday, September 14th at 7:30pm.
"As a director and producer, I get many requests to work on films. When a producer friend sent me a rough cut of Rewind, I didn’t think I could possibly watch it, much less work on it! I planned to watch five minutes of it and tell my friend who sent it that it was not my comfort zone of subject matter since I was known for inspirational films. I started watching this brave child’s story and was transported into a headline-making true crime that was mesmerizing, shocking, and it was inspirational! For the first time in my life, I clearly understood something that seemed inconceivable. I thought this story should be seen by everyone I know whether they are a parent, a teacher, aunt, uncle, neighbor, counselor, coach, pastor, anybody in any country. I signed on the day I saw the cut, which is very rare for me,” said Meehl. “People say they can’t watch a film about this subject, but I say you can’t afford not to! It has been one of the best filmmaking experiences I have ever had and I am very proud to know the team who made it and Sasha Joseph Neulinger who is the director and main character of this powerful documentary. We premiered on Independent Lens and the response has been phenomenal. We are honored and humbled to have 3 Emmy nominations for this year’s upcoming Emmy’s and I feel that says a great deal about what an accomplishment this film is. Rewind is an extraordinary film that is a MUST SEE! I so hope people will take the time to watch and come “meet” Sasha on the 14th of September. They will never forget the film or Sasha. It will change your life.”
Rewind probes the gap between image and reality, showing both how little, and how much, a camera can capture. In the documentary, we learn that Neulinger’s father is constantly filming. But his father’s camera, trained on the celebrations and frequent gatherings of a tight-knit family, was also documenting a hidden secret. It was a secret that eight-year-old Sasha could not keep. The truth sparked a media firestorm, a high-stakes court battle, and a generational reckoning. As an adult, Neulinger drew upon a revealing home video archive to piece together a story of the cycles and consequences of abuse, to examine what it means to heal, and to effect positive change in the world.
This is the third such program featuring Meehl, the award-winning director and producer of Cedar Creek Productions, in the Library’s Discover Documentaries Discussion Series. In April Meehl and director/subject Ben Masters discussed The River and The Wall, which addresses the issue of a border wall and its environmental impact. In June Meehl and her subject, maverick veterinarian Dr. Marty Goldstein, talked about The Dog Doc and treating animals holistically.
After this three-part discussion series featuring Meehl, the Mark Twain Library will continue the Discover Documentaries Discussion program beginning in January 2022 as an ongoing bi-monthly discussion group where community members can come together after watching a documentary on their own to discuss the film’s topic, context, significance and more.