Summary: A secret shared between 10 year-old girls becomes evidence in a court case 20 years later. Jody Porter knows how important it was to share the burden back then but how does her friend fell about it now?
Through a first-person essay, Jody Porter talks about her darkest secret-- being sexually abused by her father when she was ten. Porter courageously discusses the trauma and disrepair that she continues to struggle with, and makes it palpable.
Central to her account is that she took her father to court twenty years later and won. Her best childhood friend, Melissa, testified on her behalf and in a way, the story is a testament to her friendship.
Porter's technique, as it is for the rest of the CBC series, is to narrate her story simply with some music and ambient sound. There is a critical moment in her account when she goes back to her childhood house and remembers the terror of going to bed and listening for her father's footsteps. It is painful for her and for listeners.
As emotional as this audio passage is, I wish that the visit back home could have been set up more clearly before we hear her recollection. For instance, I'd want to know why she did this. Was it for the piece or for catharsis or for both?
In terms of the narrative, I would have appreciated hearing from her mother a bit earlier than where she positioned her. Also, Porter only hints at the relationship she now has with her mother, and it would be good to know more.
That being said, Porter has a powerful piece, and one that is difficult to hear. Placing an advisory with this piece is important.
Comments for Between Friends
This piece belongs to the series "CBC Radio's Outfront"
Produced by Neil Sandell
Other pieces by Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Rating Summary
1 comment
Yolette Garcia
Posted on March 19, 2006 at 02:58 PM | Permalink
Review of Between Friends
Through a first-person essay, Jody Porter talks about her darkest secret-- being sexually abused by her father when she was ten. Porter courageously discusses the trauma and disrepair that she continues to struggle with, and makes it palpable.
Central to her account is that she took her father to court twenty years later and won. Her best childhood friend, Melissa, testified on her behalf and in a way, the story is a testament to her friendship.
Porter's technique, as it is for the rest of the CBC series, is to narrate her story simply with some music and ambient sound. There is a critical moment in her account when she goes back to her childhood house and remembers the terror of going to bed and listening for her father's footsteps. It is painful for her and for listeners.
As emotional as this audio passage is, I wish that the visit back home could have been set up more clearly before we hear her recollection. For instance, I'd want to know why she did this. Was it for the piece or for catharsis or for both?
In terms of the narrative, I would have appreciated hearing from her mother a bit earlier than where she positioned her. Also, Porter only hints at the relationship she now has with her mother, and it would be good to know more.
That being said, Porter has a powerful piece, and one that is difficult to hear. Placing an advisory with this piece is important.