GOD AS MY WITNESS

Over several decades, instances of sexual abuse of children and minors have been enabled under the Archdiocese of New Orleans. The adult survivors and victims of these horrific assaults, together with the interviews of attorneys and reporters, give their accounts of the longstanding corruption that has pervaded the Catholic Church as an institution.

Through black and white cinematography, capturing the past through recreations, alongside news and family home footage, director Lindsay Q. Pitre underscores the weight of the survivors’ testimony, avoiding ostentatious direction to allow vital information to be absorbed. The shots of the Mardi Gras festival celebration in New Orleans stress the underlying darkness beneath the bright façade, contrasting the colourful carnival exhibits and costumes with the piling plastic and garbage that has been accumulated. The structure of the documentary makes sure to return to the victims as the last word, exploring the difficult question of how one navigates one’s faith and relationship to God under such harrowing circumstances.

God As My Witness is an emotionally challenging but necessary experience, a record of stories that have been silenced for too long, a call to action and justice, and a poignant demonstration of the complicated process of healing.