I first read about this film immediately after it premiered at Sundance, and it’s really something that could change the way we all see Michael Jackson‘s legacy and his music.
Here’s the description of the film at a basic level:
Leaving Neverland is a two-part documentary exploring the separate but parallel experiences of two young boys, James Safechuck, at age ten, and Wade Robson, at age seven, both of whom were befriended by Michael Jackson. Through gut-wrenching interviews with Safechuck, now 40, and Robson, now 36, as well as their mothers, wives and siblings, the film crafts a portrait of sustained abuse, exploring the complicated feelings that led both men to confront their experiences after both had a young son of his own. Directed by Dan Reed.
At the time the film had yet to be picked up fully for release, but HBO got the rights and scheduled the premiere.
Rolling Stone has been covering this in detail and saw the premiere event and bought back this report:
But the film shows how sexual abuse leaves psychological scars, how fame can be seductive enough to warp moral compasses (especially regarding the parents) and how complicated things can be when you love someone who may be hurting you. It’s also a portrait of a man who was many things to many people, and how that image may not sync up with what some folks want to believe.
