‘Untouchable’ Questions the Unspeakable Truth
“Untouchable” is the kind of movie that stays with you long after the credits roll and the lights come on in the theater. It’s a documentary that makes each audience member reevaluate his or her moral compass and, like a stereotypical hero on a quest, makes one question the definitions of good and evil. Premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival, “Untouchable” chronicles the enforcement of strict sex offender laws and the men and women behind and against them. Through a diversified lens, director David Feige constructs a balanced story of a controversial topic.
The film documents top Florida lobbyist Ron Book who, after uncovering that his long time nanny sexually abused his daughter Lauren, used his political prowess to pass some of the harshest sexual offender laws in the country. The impact of these laws is far more widespread than one would think, causing thousands of criminals to forcibly abide by them.
“Untouchable” is a truly remarkable example of three-dimensional storytelling, explaining the backstory of each subject and how Book’s laws affected their lives. Shawna Baldwin is a mother of two and has been a sexual offender for over 15 years. She lives her day-to-day life under the deep dark shadow of her past, having earned her title as “sexual offender” by having consensual sex with an underage boy. At the time, Shawna was younger and lived with her neighbor, the mother of the teenager, and even though the sex was consensual, she was branded as a tier three sexual offender, the worst possible for the offense.
Baldwin is one of many subjects Feige chooses to follow over the course of two years. The other sexual offenders he portrays are surprisingly apologetic in their crimes, and suffer with who they are each day. As a viewer, we see Book put into law that sexual offenders are forbidden from living within 2,500 feet of a school. It’s illegal to even reside in Miami Beach at all if you’re a convicted sex offender.
Public citizens are immediately thankful for these laws, knowing every child is made safe because of them. Yet Feige digs deeper into the other perspective and, instead of showcasing the public’s views of this law, we see how the sex offenders themselves are dealing with being ostracized.
Many offenders sleep under bridges and form entire communities under Miami’s Julia Tuttle Causeway that runs through Miami. They sleep in tents, living outside in conditions not fit for anyone. Feige gives humanity to these criminals and tries to make us see how the punishment may be too severe. These criminals may get jail time, but once they are released they carry the title of sex offender to the grave, like a modern scarlet letter their profile can be found in public databases and the neighborhood must be legally notified of their presence.
“Untouchable” doesn’t try to change its audience’s perception of sexual assault or force them to think lightly of sex offenders, but it does succeed in opening up the conversation for civilians and government alike to discuss the strict laws surrounding this taboo subject. It’s a model example, a documentary that makes viewers uncomfortable, while uncovering how deeply broken the world really is from both sides of the coin.
“Untouchable” is screening as part of the 2016 Tribeca Film Film Festival.
Discover more from Florida Action Committee
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
I was following oncefallen on Twitter while he was in NY. I was surprised to learn that the director of Untouchable had a Q&A after the screening with LAUREN BOOK! and no other guest with an opposing view point.
Is this true? I haven’t been able to find any info on it.
I understand reviews are stating the doc was balanced but how strange to invite Lauren Book and NOT another person to offer a balanced view? Wow. Disappointing.
That would REALLY stink.
I didn’t hear that, but I’ll dig into it.
Not only was ONLY Lauren Book in the post-screening Q&A, I was asked by the producer to be gentle to Lauren because she is “skittish.” Well, if Lauren can’t handle a simple Q&A alone (the producer answered half of Lauren’s own questions), imagine this ditzy blonde as state senator. She could not answer a simple question about Florida’s registry law!
David told me that the speaking parts for ARM were left out because it was too critical of the Book family. if only I didn’t mention Ron’s criminal record, he said. Oh, I’m not supposed to criticize the Books but they called every rally goer Pedophiles and predators!
Tom Madison was with me and can back up everything I just told you. If anyone else can catch the last screening, you can meet Lauren too.
Were you able to ask ANY questions?
Tom and I just recorded an audio review of the event because there was so much to discuss, but to answer your question, only four folks got to ask a question and thankfully I was called up as one of the four. (I don’t think they intended me to ask a question. Everyone else was sitting in “reserved’ seating and were all friends or supporters of Lauren so I was in a hostile crowd. But since the theater was somewhat dark they called me by mistake as I raised my hand.)
At any rate, you just know I was not going to play nice. I asked Lauren how she and her daddy can say registered citizens who have served their sentences don’t deserve second chances when her own father, a convicted criminal, got his second chance. Her snide response was “My dad was only convicted of illegal campaign contributions, at least he didn’t molest an 11 year old girl, and that’s all I have to say about that.” She took off after one last question because she was afraid I’d stick around. But i got to express my disapproval of her as she left.
I’m annoyed that Feige softballed and even protected her, answering more questions than she did.
every time I read or see something about the Books I can never shake (and I want to shout it from the roof top) that none of the sex offenders laws would have saved Lauren from her horrible ordeal – none of them – not the registry, not living restrictions, nothing ….it is all so insane and hypocritical! But people are so ignorant to the truth they never seem to make that connection! Everyone is so afraid of everything and they want to feel like these laws are keeping them safe ….
Could not of said it better myself…
Great comment Karen !!!
The film also won an award:
The Albert Maysles New Documentary Director Prize went to David Feige for “Untouchable,” which looks at the effect of strict sex offender laws in the United States.