As the father of four daughters, watching docs like these can be difficult, even though I have been an avid True Crime fan since Middle School. But these two new docs also inspired me – the lengths to which parents will go to find justice for their children who’ve been the victims of violent crimes really puts you inside these films. Because you and I would do the same for our kids.
‘My Daughter’s Killer’
Frenchman André Bamberski had gone through an acrimonious divorce from his wife of many years. She re-married a German physician who seemed like the perfect catch. It’s also apparent top the viewer almost immediately that Dr. Dieter Krombach probably killed his step-daughter, Kalinka Bamberski, who was 14 when she died in 1982 in Lindau, Germany. The cause of death was quite elusive, but there was no suspicion among officials that there was anything other than natural causes to blame.
But Mr. Bamberski knew in his gut that something was wrong, and he spent some thirty years investigating, fighting disparate governments with different laws (Germany and France), and essentially turning into an obsessed man whose own sanity might have been on the verge.
Although it is a documentary, I have a strict “no spoilers” policy, and so I will vaguely hint at possible malfeasance among medical colleagues, a catch and release of the suspect and a daring scheme to get the suspect and bring him to justice without the help of law enforcement.
The cast of “characters” in surprisingly large, and each participant adds an essential element to the narrative. As many parents whose children have been killed will tell you, sometimes, finding justice is the only thing one can hope for – everything else has been ripped from their hearts. It’s not a happy ending, but it is something for Bamberski’s efforts and devotion.
‘Girl in the Picture’
This film has many more twists than the one above, and doesn’t necessarily go where you might first guess (and so I all, once again, tread carefully).
A woman is found dead by the side of the road, apparently the victim of a hit and run. She is known as Sharon. She is also known as the husband of Franklin Floyd and the mother of a toddler, Michael.
But none of these names will prove to be true. Traveling the country and ending up in Oklahoma, Sharon, much, much younger than Floyd is often the victim of sexual abuse by Floyd and is likely his murder victim, as well.
The thing is, Floyd isn’t just her husband…he may be her father who abducted her when she was only 4 years old. This adds additional layers of creepiness and horror that are miles deep.
As the narrative unfolds, we meet people who knew this poor woman by different names and at different stages of her life.
In fact, the best thing I can say is that the film answers almost all of the questions it raises: What was her name? Who were her real parents? What happened to her young son?
Director Skye Borgman, who also helmed the excellent doc ‘Abducted in Plain Sight’ adapts from Investigative Journalist Matt Birbeck’s book.
And without spoiling anything – yes, we learn the identity of the sick bastard who wrought the horror on so many people, including a kindly couple who became loving parents to an important individual. Like the father in the aforementioned doc, at least knowing what happened gives them…something.
Both docs are currently streaming on Netflix
Trailers May Contain Spoilers