The Jaundiced Eye

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The Jaundiced Eye

2000

1h 30m

Documentary

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

11 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

This documentary covers the plight of Stephen Matthews and his father, Melvin. Both were originally -- and wrongly -- sentenced to 35 years in prison for molesting Stephen's 5-year-old son. There was no physical evidence, and a chlamydia test was used as forensic verification, an improper use of the procedure. The latter leads to the Matthews' early release, but when the prosecution itches to put them on trial again, father and son must try to free themselves from misguided legal zealotry.

Emanuel Levy

Variety

AS forceful as the docu is in presenting the facts, some disturbing questions linger: was the boy (who's now 15) indoctrinated or brainwashed by his mother? How did he live with that knowledge and lack of communication with father's family for a decade?

Rated: B

Nov 9, 2006

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A.O. Scott

New York Times

The Jaundiced Eye is a passionate, angry piece of advocacy, but it is equally, and in consequence, a brave and necessary act of truth-telling.

Rated: 4/5

Jan 1, 2000

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Dennis Lim

Village Voice

[Illustrates] some valuable points about how a personal prejudice can spill over into harmful, seamlessly delusional behavior, and how the high emotions inextricably entwined with a subject like child abuse can prove ultimately self-defeating.

Jan 1, 2000

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Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone

TheMovieChicks.com

Sheds light on some limitations in our legal system and how a little prejudice can go a long way. You get the sense of helplessness and frustration the Matthew's lived with...a compelling documentary.

Rated: 3.5/5

May 23, 2003

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Brian Mckay

eFilmCritic.com

An eye-opening look at the possibility of an accused pedophile's innocence ... it is a compelling caution against quick judgements made without benefit of all the facts

Rated: 4/5

Apr 10, 2003

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Luke Y. Thompson

New Times

A powerful documentary to refute those who would claim that homophobia's a dead issue.

Rated: 5/5

Oct 24, 2002

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Audience Member

Extremely hard to watch but important concepts that needed to be explored.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The Jaundiced Eye is hard to watch, primarily because of how graphic alleged sex acts against a child turn out to be. However, that is one of the doc's strong points: the father and grandfather accused to molesting a five-year-old are not scared of putting their truth on the record. The same can't be said of the boy's mother or her new husband: she stays in the shadows and he is only heard through recorded testimony. I wonder why they don't want to stand in their truth. Now, we will never know exactly what happened to the boy, but the information which shows the accused are innocent begins to stack up methodically, through interviews with expert lawyers, doctors and counselors. The film has a definite point of view, but also makes sure to hear from those with a dissenting point of view. Lower production values be damned: this is a quality doc that tells a harrowing story, even if some points are not followed up on.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The Jaundiced Eye is hard to watch, primarily because of how graphic alleged sex acts against a child turn out to be. However, that is one of the doc's strong points: the father and grandfather accused to molesting a five-year-old are not scared of putting their truth on the record. The same can't be said of the boy's mother or her new husband: she stays in the shadows and he is only heard through recorded testimony. I wonder why they don't want to stand in their truth. Now, we will never know exactly what happened to the boy, but the information which shows the accused are innocent begins to stack up methodically, through interviews with expert lawyers, doctors and counselors. The film has a definite point of view, but also makes sure to hear from those with a dissenting point of view. Lower production values be damned: this is a quality doc that tells a harrowing story, even if some points are not followed up on.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I sure do like those stories about wrongful imprisonment.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

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Audience Member

If That woman is who she claims to be then she should file herself ??? What I got out of this docudrama is No one ever rilly knows what crimes have been commited against a child ... weather he was molested or not tears where shed.. And This is the Blurr between The facts is ADULTS convince kids who arent molested that they are... and kids that are molested that they arent Its sick!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

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Audience Member

A very difficult documentary to find but nonetheless, a rewarding one that calls into question the concept of justice.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

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Nonny de la Pena

Director

Dan Gifford

Producer

Nonny de la Pena

Writer

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Synopsis

This documentary covers the plight of Stephen Matthews and his father, Melvin. Both were originally -- and wrongly -- sentenced to 35 years in prison for molesting Stephen's 5-year-old son. There was no physical evidence, and a chlamydia test was used as forensic verification, an improper use of the procedure. The latter leads to the Matthews' early release, but when the prosecution itches to put them on trial again, father and son must try to free themselves from misguided legal zealotry.

Director: Nonny de la Pena
Producer: Dan Gifford
Screenwriter: Nonny de la Pena
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 29, 2016
Runtime: 1h 30m