“A Peloton of One” is a new documentary about surviving and healing from childhood sexual abuse, and it is both powerfully moving and enraging. The film centers on a heterosexual male survivor, Dave Ohlmuller, who was abused at age twelve by a priest at his family’s church. Dave is resistant to psychotherapy but has been using exercise and fitness to improve his quality of life and has found his groove in bicycling. He decides to embark on a 700-mile bicycle trip from Chicago to New York, to try to meet other survivors and to raise awareness of the issue. Hence the “Peloton” in the title, which refers to the main pack of riders in a cycle race, who ride close to others to save energy by reducing the drag from the wind.
Dave rides alone on city streets and country trails, though obviously followed by a film crew. Occasionally he is joined by a friend or someone from a network of abuse survivors and legal advocates. He speaks daily about his survivor status, and stops in the homes of fellow survivors, who share their stories as well. He often speaks through tears, clearly confronting the horrors of his past repeatedly and reopening old wounds on this journey of healing. Fortunately, he is affirmed each time by the connections he has made or is making, and their strength, courage, and solidarity is uplifting.
Most enraging is the fight for the justice these people require to feel whole and to attempt to stop the cycle of violence and abuse. Denial of justice has allowed pedophiles to continue to ruin lives, generation after generation. This reviewer feels fortunate not to have suffered in this way, although I am all too familiar with the damage done by adult abusers, and the lack of retribution they face, as I have known and loved all too many who have. A pervasive roadblock is the Statute of Limitations law, which is a state-by-state situation. The film includes hearings and protests on this issue, and for me, it was shocking to learn of efforts that have failed. Why would anyone think it was a bad idea to allow victims who were too young to understand what was being taking from them be denied their day in court? With all our current awareness of the prevalence of child exploitation and the lifelong effects of PTSD, changing these laws would seem to be a no-brainer.
Fortunately, many states have updated these laws recently, and the movement may be picking up steam. I urge you to see this film and to be part of the solution.
A PELOTON OF ONE releases in virtual theaters nationwide February 18 followed by a digital release March 11.
Follow @APelotonOfOneDoc on FBReview: Janet ProlmanJanet Prolman was born in Boston, Massachusetts, where her mother nicknamed her “my little queer.” She has also lived in North Carolina and New York. A lover of short stories, theater, music, and performance, she knows the lyrics to almost every song or advertising jingle she’s ever heard. Now on Cape Cod, she enjoys kayaking and frequenting Provincetown.
Labels: 2022, child abuse, documentary, Janet Prolman, review
