The Family

Anne Hamilton-Byrne and husband, Bill, helped create a sect in Australia in the 1960’s known as The Family. They “acquired” young children – sometimes newborns – through nefarious means, kept them captive, brainwashed and abused them and even administered LSD. Adults also joined the cult – middle class professionals, academics, high-profile individuals. Anne was a beguiling, charismatic, attractive woman who easily convinced her followers that she was the reincarnation of Jesus Christ. As one person put it: “She had eyes that looked through your soul.”

In a disturbing new documentary, director Rosie Jones reveals the dark secrets and bizarre rituals that took place at a secluded forest property at Lake Eildon (two hours from Melbourne). Beginning the narrative in 1987 when police and journalists finally started investigating rumours they had heard for years, Jones gathers news reports, footage filmed by the sect itself, and interviews with former sect children to slowly unfold this horrifying story.

In spite of the abundance of source material, the film feels like it has only broken the skin of the story and Anne Hamilton-Byrne remains an enigma. Or perhaps this is as much as we’ll ever know. (RB)

★★★1/2

BY RITA BRATOVICH