Thanks to some great investigative reporting, some of which is featured in the Oscar-winning film, “Spotlight,” the sexual abuse perpetrated by some priests against young boys has been in the national spotlight for years now. But just because folks know about it, the trauma inflicted on the victims doesn’t just go away. Dealing with that trauma, decades later, is the focus of the new documentary, “Procession.”
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As seen in the trailer, the Netflix doc, “Procession,” takes a unique look at the fallout of the sexual abuse that six Midwestern men experienced as young boys. Years later, each of them is attempting to receive some sort of therapy using elaborate, scripted productions that will help them work through their trauma, and hopefully, won’t lead to even more despair.
The new documentary comes from director Robert Greene. The filmmaker is probably best known for his film, “Bisbee ‘17,” as well as docs such as “Kate Plays Christine,” “Actress,” and “Fake It So Real.”
“Procession” debuts on Netflix on November 19. You can watch the trailer below.
Here’s the synopsis:
Six midwestern men — all survivors of childhood sexual assault at the hands of Catholic priests and clergy — come together to direct a drama therapy-inspired experiment designed to collectively work through their trauma. As part of a radically collaborative filmmaking process, they create fictional scenes based on memories, dreams and experiences, meant to explore the church rituals, culture and hierarchies that enabled silence around their abuse. In the face of a failed legal system, we watch these men reclaim the spaces that allowed their assault, revealing the possibility for catharsis and redemption through a new-found fraternity.