A Friend of the Family (miniseries)

Last updated

A Friend of the Family
A Friend of the Family.png
Created by Nick Antosca
Directed by
Starring
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes9
Production
Executive producers
Producers
Running time51–56 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network Peacock
ReleaseOctober 6 (2022-10-06) –
November 10, 2022 (2022-11-10)

A Friend of the Family is an American biographical crime drama television miniseries. Based on true events, it focuses on Robert Berchtold, who in the 1970s sexually abused and twice kidnapped Jan Broberg. The show stars Jake Lacy as Berchtold, and Hendrix Yancey and Mckenna Grace as Broberg at different ages. Colin Hanks, Lio Tipton, and Anna Paquin complete the cast.

Contents

Nick Antosca created A Friend of a Family after reading Stolen Innocence: The Jan Broberg Story (2003) and watching Abducted in Plain Sight (2017), both of which discuss Broberg's kidnappings. Antosca thought Broberg's story was too intricate for Abducted in Plain Sight's 90-minute runtime and sought to retell the events with more context and depth. Broberg and her mother Mary Ann served as producers on the show; Jan Broberg was often invited to give the writers suggestions. Episodes were recorded between February and August 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia; and Los Angeles, California. The series was released between October 6 and November 10, 2022, on the streaming service Peacock. Critics gave A Friend of the Family positive reviews, and praised Eliza Hittman's direction and Lacy's performance.

Plot

In 1974, Robert Berchtold, a close friend of the Broberg family, kidnaps 12-year-old Jan Broberg. After Broberg is returned to her parents, he again abducts her at age 14 in 1976.

Cast and characters

Main

Recurring

Episodes

No.Title  [1] Directed byWritten by  [2] Original air date  [3]
1"Horseback Riding in American Falls" Eliza Hittman Nick Antosca October 6, 2022 (2022-10-06)
In the 1970s, Mary Ann and Bob Broberg, and their children Jan, Karen, and Susan meet their new neighbors, the Berchtolds. Robert Berchtold, the patriarch, shows an unhealthy interest in Jan. After Jan's piano lesson, Robert wants to pick her up and manipulates Mary Ann into letting him do so, despite Bob's disapproval. Jan, who has been drugged, becomes sleepy during the drive. Jan's parents become increasingly concerned and contact Robert's wife Gail. Gail says Robert has depression and that she followed him to a storage unit where Robert was working in a motorhome when he left the house. The Brobergs are eager to call the police, but Gail tells them about Robert's depression which began after the Berchtolds failed to adopt a child from Mexico. Mary Ann calls the police, but is relieved to find no car matching Robert's has been involved in an accident. Bob has trouble sleeping and tells Mary Ann he is prepared to confront Robert if he and Jan return. Mary Ann thinks about her conversation with Robert after Jan's lesson in which Robert told Mary Ann he wished they had met earlier. Jan wakes; she is tied to a bed and hears a voice repeatedly saying "female companion".
2"The Mission" Rachel Goldberg Teleplay by : Brian Chamberlayne
Story by : Brian Chamberlayne & Rachael Paradis		October 6, 2022 (2022-10-06)
Jan wakes and hears a voice instructing her to find a male companion. She discovers Robert who claims she has been selected for a special assignment and that awful things will happen if she refuses. Mary Ann and Bob call the police and the local FBI arrives a few days later. They discover Robert's car has been found; it has a broken window and blood is found at the scene. The FBI learn Robert has been giving Jan anti-allergy pills since her abduction. Bob's psychiatrist reveals Robert has an unhealthy interest in children. The FBI tries to spread the story, but Jan remains missing after two weeks. Mary Ann calls Robert's brother Joe and learns Robert has agreed to return Jan if he can marry her. The FBI traces Robert to Mexico through his calls. Robert is arrested and placed in custody, but he bribes a guard to allow him a few moments with Jan. Robert instructs Jan to continue the mission, cease contact with other male companions, and not tell the authorities about the pills or "baby stuff". Jan's parents take her home and Bob looks at a paper he received in Mexico; it is a marriage certificate for Jan and Robert.
3"The Gift of Tongues"Eliza HittmanTeleplay by : Lucy Teitler
Story by : Lucy Teitler & Julia Batavia		October 6, 2022 (2022-10-06)
In 1972, two years before Jan's abduction, Bob and Mary Ann are happy. Robert introduces himself to the community and invites Mary Ann to accompany the children on the school run. Robert picks up the children and takes them to school. Robert visits Bob at work and talks about his intimacy issues with Gail. Robert confides in Bob and Bob asks Mary Ann to help with their issues. Robert later asks Mary Ann and Bob to safeguard his children if something befalls him or Gail. At a ball, Robert dances with Mary Ann and tells her he wishes he had met her earlier. The Berchtolds invite Jan to see a play. When Jan becomes sleepy, Robert comforts her and takes her to a hotel room. Bob furiously demands the families spend less time together, prompting Robert to talk to him. Robert discusses his childhood and strained relationship with his stepfather. Later, Bob gives Robert a handjob. Bob is ashamed of himself. When Mary Ann suggests having sex, Bob replies he is tired. The next day, Bob finds Robert making a separate bedroom for Jan. In 1974, Robert is released from prison and returns home.
4"Articles of Faith"Rachel GoldbergMarie Hanhnhon NguyenOctober 6, 2022 (2022-10-06)
Mary Ann takes Jan to a doctor who says nothing sexual appears to have occurred during her kidnapping. When Mary Ann asks Jan about Mexico, Jan becomes enraged and demands everything return to normal. The FBI visit the Brobergs, and inform them Robert is returning from Mexico and will remain free until his trial. Agent Walsh insists the Brogergs must not speak with Robert under any circumstances. During Christmas, Jan finds a wedding ring Robert gave her in Mexico. Gail tells Bob she knows about his sexual encounter with Robert. Later, Bob hints at events between himself and Robert which Mary Ann finds difficult to believe. She visits Jennifer Ferguson and signs an affidavit stating she and Bob granted Robert permission to take Jan to Mexico. The district attorney is outraged but they agree a hearing must still take place. Jan says Robert did not hurt her. During her testimony, Jennifer portrays Mary Ann as a neglectful parent. Robert reminds Jan of her "mission". Bob confesses his sexual encounter with Robert to their local church leaders, who disfellowship him. Jan prays for Jasper, Robert's sick son. Meanwhile, Robert tells Mary Ann he loves her and they kiss.
5"The Bitter Cup"Steven PietBrian EvensonOctober 13, 2022 (2022-10-13)
Mary Ann feels guilty about having an affair with Robert. Bob asks Robert about some flowers and a card saying "Forever, B" Jan received but Robert tells him to return home. The next day, a voice coming from a mini-speaker informs Jan her father is in danger and that she must continue with the mission. In 1975, Mary Ann cuts off Robert's call. Jennifer invites Mary Ann to a meeting in early 1976 and threatens to out Bob if the case goes to trial. When Mary Ann admits to having sex with Robert, Bob is outraged. He notifies her that divorce papers will soon be filed because she poses a serious risk to their children. Mary Ann leaves the house to stay with her mother and sister and Robert watches over Jan at night. Robert tells Jan to marry him and travel to Wyoming. Jan tells her parents she has accepted a summer job there. Mary Ann begs Bob for his forgiveness and they reconcile. In July 1976, Robert is given a five-year jail term, but serves only ten days. Jan leaves home and her family is unable to find her.
6"Son of Perdition"Steven PietAlana B. LytleOctober 20, 2022 (2022-10-20)
Robert picks up Jan and takes her to his business called Family Fun Center. Jan meets Robert's son Jasper and business partner Tom "Bunny" Bunsen. Walsh tells the Brobergs the FBI cannot get involved because Jan has willingly run away. The Broberg family meets with an attorney named Mark, who contacts Robert's lawyer. Meanwhile, Robert takes Jan to a play and reminds her of her "mission". On Jan's 14th birthday, Mark demands she be returned home. Robert manipulates Jan with lies about her parents and sends her home. Walsh informs the Brobergs that his friend said Robert may be classified as a psychopath due to his obsession with young girls. When he sees Jan and Robert, Bob contemplates using a gun, but decides against it. Jan tells her parents she wants to marry Robert. Bob and Mary Ann learn that for Robert to be convicted, Jan must recount her experiences due to a lack of physical evidence of sexual assault. Robert tells Gail their divorce will soon be finalized. Jan argues with her parents and prays her family will be safe as long as she completes the mission. Later, Jan's parents find her bedroom empty with a note saying she has run away. Walsh wonders if Robert wrote the note to give a false impression. Mary Ann calls Robert, who says he does not know Jan's location.
7"The Great Deceiver"Jamie TravisBrian ChamberlayneOctober 27, 2022 (2022-10-27)
Walsh tells the Brobergs their situation cannot be seen as a kidnapping case. Walsh is devoted to supporting them and places a recording device in their home. Robert makes a call to the Brobergs' home and Mary Ann berates him for kidnapping Jan. Later, Robert accuses Walsh of harassing him, and Walsh is instructed to abandon the Brobergs' case. Gail asks Mary Ann to grant Robert permission to marry Jan. The Brobergs ask for an FBI investigation but Walsh and the bureau are unable to issue any executive orders due to the lack of evidence. Walsh asks police in Ogden, Utah to monitor Robert. The Brobergs visit Ogden to check if Jan is with Robert. A few weeks earlier, Robert leaves Jan at a convent and instructs her to avoid interacting and making friends with people her own age. Jan is enrolled in an all-girls Catholic school under a pseudonym and Robert tells the nuns a carefully crafted story to prevent suspicion. He later gives Jan a letter and forces her to copy it. The Brobergs receive the letter in which says Jan wants to marry Robert.
8"Outer Darkness"Jamie TravisTeleplay by : Lucy Teitler
Story by : Lucy Teitler & Diana Pawell		November 3, 2022 (2022-11-03)
9"Revelation"Lauren WolksteinNick Antosca & Brian Evenson & Alana B. LytleNovember 10, 2022 (2022-11-10)

Production

Development

Nick Antosca wanted to retell Jan Broberg's story after watching Abducted in Plain Sight (2017). Nik Antoska.png
Nick Antosca wanted to retell Jan Broberg's story after watching Abducted in Plain Sight (2017).

Robert Berchtold, a close family friend, kidnapped and sexually assaulted Jan Broberg at ages 12 and 14. [4] [5] [6] Jan and her mother Mary Ann Broberg wrote a memoir titled Stolen Innocence: The Jan Broberg Story (2003) about these events. [7] [8] In 2017, Broberg told her story in the television documentary Abducted in Plain Sight . [9] [10] After watching the documentary, Nick Antosca "couldn't stop thinking about it" and considered Broberg's family fascinating. He later read Stolen Innocence, which he said "was relatable in that we all have vulnerabilities that somebody can use against us". Despite admiring Abducted in Plain Sight, Antosca thought the story was too intricate for an 90-minute runtime; he wanted to work with Broberg and her family to retell the events with more context and depth. Antosca and his colleagues studied many trial transcripts, FBI notes, interviews, and childhood journals about the case. [11] In May 2020, it was announced Universal Content Productions was developing a series about Broberg's kidnappings; Antosca was to write and executive produce the series under his banner Eat the Cat, and Jan and Mary Ann Broberg would serve as producers. [12]

Jan received several offers to tell her story in a feature film, television film, or miniseries but she thought the pitches were "too slick" and asked questions like "How did you ever forgive your parents?" that lacked understanding about her family's experiences. In March 2019, Antosca and Alex Hedlund contacted her about the project; she said he distinguished himself from other filmmakers in wanting to tell her story in his "sincerely empathetic" approach, saying, "There was care and concern ... So I was like, 'I think they get it.'" [13]

Antosca stated he did not want to tell Broberg's story unless it benefited her family. [14] In A Friend of the Family, he wanted to explain her parents' actions and choices, which he deemed only possible with her assistance. [15] The Brobergs hoped the show would help people recognize grooming, coercion, and manipulation. [16] The writers often invited Jan to give detailed suggestions. [17] According to Antosca, she was vital to the "human story" depicted in the series, which is more immersive, empathetic, and relatable for the viewer. [15] Broberg stated she has told her story many times "because I want to help people see it before it's too late", and abuse from "someone you know, someone you often love and usually trust" is common but not discussed enough. [18]

The show's nine-episode duration allowed for more subtle and relatable story-telling than that of Abducted in Plain Sight. [19] Antosca thought the story is "about a family overcoming something and getting to a place of forgiveness and healing where the monster has lost his power over them, which is also what made it worth telling". [11] He classed the series as psychological horror. From the show's conception, he knew it would not include anything "exploitative or potentially gratuitous or uncomfortable". Antosca said viewers should be able to process each part of the story without being overwhelmed by anything that felt exploitative. He said A Friend of the Family should not show any of Broberg's abuse as a teenager, believing it would not serve the series' purpose. [14] At the start of the show, Broberg introduces herself and explains her story to assure viewers she survives and because the events depicted are "nearly unbelievable, unless someone says, 'This happened'". [16]

In February 2022, the streaming platform Peacock gave the show a straight-to-series order with Eliza Hittman as director and executive producer. [20] Hittman had never heard about Broberg's story before receiving the script for A Friend of the Family but she admired the show's writing, characters, and world so much she "devoured" its script. Her direction was not influenced by Abducted in Plain Sight due to the large number of omissions and limited duration. Since Abducted in Plain Sight's production, true crime dramas had gained in popularity, prompting Hittman to contemplate the genre's ethics. Broberg was serving as producer, which Hittman described as a rare occasion in which the victim had granted consent. [21] According to Antosca, Hittman was a key part of the "delicate psychological emotional character moments". [22]

Casting

Vanity Fair said A Friend of the Family was barely a "dutiful retelling". Broberg anticipated the cast would go on "their own emotional journey" and develop their own understanding of their characters. She knew they did not want to mimic her family. Broberg addressed letters to the main cast, assuring them she would not hinder any decisions or interpretations they made. She also wanted the actors to understand every character—including Berchtold—was a "full human being". [18]

Although she was not involved in the final casting selections, Broberg extensively spoke to Antosca about Robert Berchtold's character and the importance of portraying him as credible, loving parent. [23] Jake Lacy was cast as Robert Berchtold; Lacy was initially apprehensive about the role but Broberg's involvement and commitment persuaded him. Lacy was drawn to the show's nuanced presentation of the events, which showed the Broberg family as human beings rather than as victims of a sensational crime. [24] To prepare for his role, Lacy read Lolita (1955), a novel in which the middle-aged narrator abducts and sexually abuses a 12-year-old girl with whom he is obsessed. [25]

Lacy thought emulating Berchtold's mindset was unnecessary, unhealthy, and useless. [26] He imagined Berchtold's kidnappings and sexual motivations as a heist and took inspiration from Ocean's Eleven character Danny Ocean and American actor Steve McQueen:, saying, "He wants to be the dangerous, cool, edgy guy in this LDS community in Pocatello, Idaho ... I leaned into a lot of that ego and assumed charisma, assumed charm and fearlessness". [25] Antosca gave Lacy a number of Jan and Mary Ann's personal possessions, including FBI recordings of telephone calls between the Brobergs and Berchtold after Jan's second kidnapping, in which he pretends not to know her location. [27] Lacy was hesitant about becoming close to Jan Broberg because he feared he would be unable to portray Berchtold's inhumanity and obsessiveness. [16] [25] Broberg met Lacy during the second episode's production; according to Lacy, meeting Broberg "helped settle the work more than shake it up because you get to see the person you're doing this for". [25]

Prior to receiving the script for A Friend of the Family, Colin Hanks had not heard Broberg's story; he almost declined the role of Bob Broberg, not wanting to play "a super nice Mormon that goes through a bunch of stuff". Hanks watched Abducted in Plain Sight after reading the first three screenplays. He could not stop thinking about the Brobergs' story and discussed it with many people. After two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hanks challenged himself to work on projects that scared him. He said he "really looked at [A Friend of the Family's] story as that challenge, and ... just jumped off the cliff and got to work". Hanks found Bob was a difficult character to portray, saying he had no similarities to the character and that he was "so petrified". Jan told Hanks Bob often said "every day is a bonus", which significantly enhanced Hanks's portrayal: he said, "That was such an important thing that I came back to quite a bit, because no matter what is happening, ... to still have that point of view—even on the darkest of days—that every day is a bonus, that was so helpful". [28]

Lio Tipton, who portrays Gail Berchtold, was interested in the show due to the Brobergs' involvement, and was also a fan of Antosca and Hittman. [29] Of the main cast, the least was known about Gail and there was nothing clear about her position. [22] Tipton often met with Hittman to discuss this; Tipton wanted to focus on how hard Gail worked to keep her family secure and together. [29] Tipton attempted to focus on the interactions with Lacy's character and tried to avoid taking sides during their performance. [22] [29]

Mckenna grace 2023 1.jpg
Hendrix Yancey.jpg
Mckenna Grace (left) and Hendrix Yancey share the role of Jan Broberg.

Hendrix Yancey and Mckenna Grace portray younger and older versions of Jan Broberg, respectively. [30] [31] Antosca was insistent on not casting adult actors who looked young for the role. [16] Grace studied Broberg's story in depth, reading Stolen Innocence, court documents, diary entries, and letters between Broberg and Berchtold. [32] While filming, Grace tried to spend as much time as she could with Yancey. and copied her mannerisms and smile. [33] Grace also worked alongside Broberg. [13] Despite enjoying freedom as an actor, Grace wanted to connect with Broberg and understand as much as she could about her thoughts and feelings at the time. [34] Broberg and Grace discussed subtle gestures such an nail-biting to show stress. [13] Grace described the role as "really emotionally and sometimes physically exhausting"; she had to push her abilities and blend three versions of Broberg—her own, Yancey's, and the real-life Broberg. [32]

The show also stars Anna Paquin as Mary Ann Broberg, Jan's mother. [35] The recurring cast includes Austin Stowell as FBI Agent Peter Walsh, who is determined to return Jan to her family; Patrick Fischler as Garth Pincock, Bannock County's district attorney; Bree Elrod as Jennifer Ferguson, Berchtold's lawyer; Philip Ettinger as Joe Berchtold, Robert's brother; [36] and Ella Jay Basco as Sofia. [37] [38] In the show's final episode, Jan Broberg makes a cameo as Dr. Carr, a therapist who worked with her family. [39] [40] Broberg had previously worked as an actor and loved the profession. She considered her appearance in A Friend of the Family freeing; [19] she said she felt she was "able to give [her] younger self a path" and console her father, who she thought never truly forgave himself. [13] [19]

Filming and design

A Friend of the Family was primarily filmed in the Atlanta metropolitan area [41] and some scenes were filmed in Los Angeles, California. Principal photography took place from February to August 2022. [42] While filming the scene in which Berchtold drugs Broberg, the crew focused on ensuring the then 11-year-old Yancey felt safe; according to Antosca, "You're asking a very young actress to go to a really intense emotional place. So I was very scared by getting that right, giving her what she needed to do her best work but protecting her". [23] The show depicts the Broberg family's normal life, including birthdays, church visits, and vacations. The design takes inspiration from Classical Realism films of the 1970s, including Badlands (1973) and Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974). [18] Production designer John D. Kretschmer was influenced by his own Protestant home in North Carolina, which he deemed similar to Broberg's neighborhood. The production team recreated the Broberg family's house in Atlanta: they renovated a home atop a hill that was "a surprising visual match" by replicating the windows and floor plan. There was not much information available about Berchtold's house but Kretschmer knew he was wealthy, and owned a piano and a plethora of games. The team used police reports to model the GMC 260 automobile he drove. [43] Yancey and Grace wore some of Broberg's clothes from the period. [18] In the final episode, Grace wears a reproduction of a dress jan Broberg wore in a photograph. [33]

Release

A Friend of the Family's first four episodes were made available on the Peacock on October 6, 2022. [44] The final five episodes were released weekly from October 13 to November 10. [3] [45]

Reception

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 92% approval rating for A Friend of the Family with an average rating of 7.8/10 based on 24 critical reviews. The website's critics' consensus reads; "Unspooling like a slow-motion nightmare, A Friend of the Family benefits immeasurably from Eliza Hittman's deft direction and Jake Lacy's unflinching portrayal of insidious evil". [1] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 73 out of 100 based on 12 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [46]

Hittman's direction received praise. Eliza Hittman-0731.jpg
Hittman's direction received praise.

Journalists praised the show's portrayal of the true-crime genre. [lower-alpha 1] According to Slant Magazine , A Friend of the Family is able to "sidestep some common true-crime pitfalls" by focusing on the psychological effects rather than sexual abuse, [49] and IndieWire writer Steve Greene said the series "has little concern for true-crime expectations". [50] According to The Hollywood Reporter , A Friend of the Family mostly consists of "self-justification" for the Broberg family. [51] Hittman's direction was well-received by critics. [1] Greene said the show puts the viewer directly in Jan's shoes. [50] Chase Hutchinson, from Collider , agreed, describing the direction as "understated yet no less upsetting". [52] Several reviewers commented on the show's duration. Writing for The Daily Telegraph , Michael Hogan called the show "unnecessarily bloated". [53] Kristen Baldwin of Entertainment Weekly said the show has difficulty sustaining its nine-hour duration due to a lack of insight and analysis. [54] The A.V. Club 's Saloni Gajjar stated nine episodes were warranted and called the show "compelling". [55]

Critics praised Lacy's performance. [1] TheWrap stated his performance on the show "lives and dies", and is deserving of an Emmy Award nomination. [56] The Financial Times called him the show's highlight. [57] According to IGN , Lacy conveys a sense of villainy simply by smiling widely and speaking softly. [48] The rest of the cast also received praise: reviewers from MovieWeb and The A.V. Club referred to Paquin as "heartbreaking" and "quietly powerful", respectively, [45] [55] while Common Sense Media stated Tipton "gives ... Gail real depth, convincingly depicting a troubled woman frozen between shame". [58] According to Variety 's Joshua Alston, Tipton is able to give the character stability while maintaining a jittery, disturbing quality that is reminiscent of Lili Taylor. [59] According to Baldwin, Yancey's and Grace's performances both have genuine warmth and vulnerability, [54] and Hogan described Yancey as "heartbreakingly vulnerable". [53] Entertainment website Ready Steady Cut dubbed Yancey and Grace the show's "MVPs", saying they "manage to fully convince and convey that they are in fact the one character at differing ages". [60] RogerEbert.com 's Brain Tallerico, however, said the show is less coherent with two actors playing Jan; he stated he would prefer only Grace portraying the character. [61] MovieWeb deemed Hanks' performance his finest yet [45] but The Hollywood Reporter labeled him a "weak link". [51]

A Friend of the Family: True Evil

On November 15, 2022, Peacock released the documentary film A Friend of the Family: True Evil. [62] It follows Jan Broberg's recovery as she revisits several places, including the bedroom where her sexual assaults began. It also includes the story of another victim of Berchtold. The documentary explores ways families deal with generational trauma, which can affect survivors and their loved ones years after the abuse occurred, through interviews with Jan Broberg, her mother and son, and other family members. [63] [64]

Notes

  1. ↑ Attributed to reviews from MovieWeb , [45] Consequence , [47] and IGN [48]

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References

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  10. ↑ Rosa, Joanne (February 26, 2019). "Jan Broberg from Abducted in Plain Sight Explains Harrowing Childhood Abductions". ABC News. Archived from the original on July 23, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
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