I like films about paedophiles

I saw an ad for a film on Channel 4 a while back that piqued my interest. It was called Secret Life. Billed on the More4 website itself as:

'...a powerful feature-length single drama that questions the lack of effective measures in place to prevent convicted child sex offenders from re-offending after prison, and ultimately seeks to explore ways to best safeguard our children.'

...the review highlights how it can sometimes do a disservice to the film it is trying to summarise. In the film, the lack of effective measures was called into question, but it was given nowhere near the amount of emphasis the main character's perspective was. I'm guessing whoever wrote that review had children.

In a climate that spawns undereducated mobs (Remember the attack on the paediatrician's house in the wake of Rebekah Wade's Name and Shame campaign?) and where even the otherwise normally restrained join the 'bang 'em and hang 'em' bandwagon, making films like these is one of the few genuine anti-establishment things left you can do.

Usually when this subject is touched upon by mainstream cinema, it invariably features a victim is slowly and profoundly destroyed by some one-dimensionally evil maladjusted predator, or else a victim that struggles to overcome the violation and - in a move with which we are often invited to sympathise - returns years later to exact revenge.

Or other such similar rot.

This was the first film I'd seen where not only was the plight of the perpertrator was highlighted, but where sympathy for him was invited. Telling the story of a man just out of prison, after being jailed for sex crimes against young children, it showed how he tried to adjust back to life on the outside.

*spoilers ahead*

This was different in a few ways. For one thing, it didn't dwell to the point of pain on what he had done to merit his jail sentence. In fact, the film opened with what could be construed as a get-out clause for his behaviour: He was at his last support group meeting, explaining how his father had abused him, and that he himself getting caught was the best thing that had ever happened to him.

Once he was out, he was presented almost as much of a victim of his desires as his past victims were. His efforts to avoid temptation were valiant, but often futile, and it was with only heroic restraint on his part that he kept himself from reoffending. Still, he was met constantly with a lack of sympathy and often with barely hidden contempt at every turn. His psychologist only barely managed to conceal her feelings of repulsion, his parole officer was unprofessional at best, but more often than not disdainful, and then there was the incident with the police officer.

Having arrived at the police station for the obligatory daily signing of the sex offenders register, the main character found another woman who was in obvious distress, having just been mugged outside a shopping centre. He offered her (if I remember rightly) the bus fare home, as her purse had been stolen and she didn't have any money left. Gradually her look of distress start to be replaced by wan gratitude. That is, until the police officer bellowed out from under the glass partition "Are you here to sign the sex offenders register?!" The change in the girl was instantaneous, she retreated with her pram, as if the kindness he had offered her had never happened, and at the same time, everyone looked at him, and then away when he looked at them. Am I alone in thinking that could've been handled more professionally?

It goes downhill for him from there. Every now and again the tabloids stir up an interest in his case, and he ends up running from mobs with baseball bats as a result (the second time it happened, I derived particular satisfaction from that fact that one of the thugs ended up getting hit by a car as he tried to chase his target across the road), and then, thanks to a bunch of reactionary Not In My Back Yards protesting outside his rehabilitation centre, it gets closed, and he gets transferred to an ordinary hostel with little to no support as he attempts to reenter the community. After a while, he meets a girl of 12, and spends the day trying to woo her. Having no idea about his past, she eventually warms to him, but he sees her to her home untouched. After he leaves her, we get a glimpse into what his thoughts on her are, but the film ends in tragedy.

It made me think about the nature of paedophilia in general. Is it a sexual orientation in its own right? It seems to be, given that a lot of offenders don't seem to have a distinct preference for one gender over another, and it seems to be just as deep-rooted, because if it was a mere disorder, the so-called afflicted would be bending over backwards to rid themselves of it. We're all familiar with closet gays who try to maintain the outward deception of non-interest in boys, but in private are unable to keep it in their pants. Paedophiles seem to be the same: temptation seems to win eventually. If that's the case, then they're pretty much fucked. We've already learned that so-called reparative therapy for gays is a waste of time, not to mention potentially extremely damaging to the person involved. It wouldn't be an outrageous extrapolation to assume the same for reparative measures for paedophiles. It would appear that the only practical solution is to take a vow of celibacy.

It also makes me think about the nature of sexuality in children in general. 14-year olds are going at it hammer and tongs these days, yet if they were to embark on a relationship with an adult, the latter would be thrown in jail. I remember having a discussion once with a psychiatrist who worked mostly with teenagers and young adults, and she said that in the current climate, people seem to be averse to recognising the existence of sexuality in young children. Part of this is why some people go into meltdown when confronted with a situation like this, one that seems unnatural, when it actually isn't. I remember fancying one of my teachers when I was 12, but if anything had come of it, I would have been considered a victim, in spite of the fact that if I had known I was in with a chance, I would have encouraged it.

Funnily enough, the age gap between me and some of my men has more or less maintained itself since then. Har har...

I've gone off the point somewhat, but the fluidity with which sexuality emerges in children needs to be recognised.

As for paedophilia itself, I'm stumped. In this age, if that's your inclination, then the future looks substantially less than rosy. It was particularly unfortunate for the character in Secret Life, as the evidence is there to suggest that it was thanks to his father that he was thrust into a world that no-one in their right mind would want to be a part of. I really don't know what else to say, other than if you're going to follow your instincts, make sure the object of your affections won't suffer for it later. Otherwise resort to good old-fashioned DIY.

As for the tabloids, their offices need to be bombed. While their editors are in them. That would be one problem solved.

Are you getting this, Rebekah?