A Heartbreaking Chronicle of Institutional Failure
Review: “At the Heart of Gold” Documentary
Content Warning: While this review does not contain descriptions of sexual assault, the documentary it reviews does. Please watch with care.
The documentary “At the Heart of Gold” is a heartbreaking, powerful chronicle of institutional failure; pursuing justice to the fullest extent, and supporting survivors as they healed and recovered.
After reading and reviewing Rachael DenHollander’s book What is a Girl Worth?, I sought to learn from other survivors of Nassar’s abuse; seeking to better understand what they endured as well as how the institutional failures of USA Gymnastics, Michigan State University, and other groups became barriers to their healing.
A Chronicle of Institutional Failure
Institutional failure is a hallmark of the Larry Nassar investigation and this documentary. You’ll hear gymnasts, their families, and investigators share how many times–and over how many years–reports of Nassar’s abuse were filed but never acted upon. USA Gymnastics is the governing body of gymnastics in the United States. It provides rules, regulations and standards for gymnast training and gym operations. The organization received multiple reports of abuse but failed to act on them.
Interested in more content like this? Subscribe to our newsletter here.
Michigan State University, where Nassar’s practice was located, similarly received reports of abuse and also failed to act. When Nassar survivor Amanda Thomashow, featured in the documentary, filed a complaint against Nassar and pursued a Title 9 investigation, the investigation concluded that Nassar was not at fault and his actions were “medically appropriate”. Several gymnastics coaches across the state of Michigan, including the head coach of the Michigan State University Women’s Gymnastics team, also received private reports from gymnasts about Nassar’s abuse. Yet again, the allegations fell on deaf ears. For years, the very institutions that were supposed to be protecting these young gymnasts were instead protecting an abusive doctor (and abusive coaches). It was only when survivors began publicly coming forward to filing charges and lawsuits that these institutions were held accountable.
Pursuing Justice to the Fullest Extent
The final catalyst needed to pursue justice and ensure Nassar would never practice medicine or victimize young women again came when Rachael DenHollander and Amanda Thomashow publicly stepped forward and identified themselves as some of Nassar’s victims. Other gymnasts and dancers featured in the documentary (Larissa Boyce, Nadia Comaneci, Kat Ebert, Lyndsy Gamet, Trinea Gonczar, Isabell Hutchins, and others) chronicle how Rachael and Amanda’s courage inspired them to come forward, file formal charges, and even choose to be named publicly and identified as a victim during the criminal trial. In the end, Nassar received 60 years in prison as a sentence for his crimes.
Want to help people on the healing journey in the aftermath of Spiritual Abuse? Give a donation to support survivors here.
However, justice not only looked like putting Nassar behind bars, but ensuring that the very institutions that failed to protect the victims were held accountable as well. Top officials from USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University were either fired or resigned from their roles. They either publicly or silently acknowledged their complicity in Nassar’s abuse and the abject failure to protect the young, innocent gymnasts they were entrusted to protect. This documentary serves as a reminder that justice should not only happen at an institutional level, but on an individual level as well.
Supporting Survivors’ Healing and Recovery
Some of the most striking, powerful scenes in the documentary occur in the courtroom. The judge permitted victim impact statements to be read by those who felt inclined to publicly share their pain and the devastating impact of Nassar’s abuse. Initially, only a dozen or so survivors had indicated a desire to testify.
By the end of Nassar’s trial, over 150 of his victims spoke, concluding with Rachael DenHollander’s statement. Other victims came forward publicly as well, including Olympians Jordyn Wieber, Aly Raisman, Simone Biles, and others. Prior to the trial, many of Nassar’s victims were pursuing therapy and other means of healing. However, many of those featured in the documentary also noted that the opportunity to make a victim impact statement in the presence and with the support of other survivors; was instrumental in their process of healing. While trauma never fully heals, many of the survivors gathered the strength and encouragement needed to continue living. Some even decided to pursue gymnastics again as a result of sharing their own victim impact statement and hearing the statements of their fellow survivors.
“At the Heart of Gold” was a compelling reminder to always be a listening ear and bold voice to advocate for those experiencing abuse and injustice. Hearing these stories of institutional failure appalled me and left me with a desire to never become part of an institution or organization that so deeply fails others.
This documentary also impressed upon me the absolute strength of every survivor of not only Nassar’s abuse but all abuse survivors. It takes immense courage to publicly identify as a victim of such a heinous crime and to publicly confront your abuser in a court of law. I loved observing the many ways the survivors supported one another, both in and out of the courtroom. I hope that mutual support continues to this day.
Finally, this documentary was a striking reminder of how far churches, religious organizations, and other institutions will go to cover up abuse and scandal. Rather than acting on behalf of victims’ healing, recovery, and pursuit of justice, these institutions and organizations often act on behalf of the perpetrator, failing to hold them accountable for their actions. Whether it’s in a church or a gymnastics training center, there are clear parallels between these organizations and institutions of covering up abuse in the name of protecting perpetrators instead of advocating for victims’ justice and healing.
If you’re looking for a short, yet compelling, documentary that speaks to institutional failure, justice, and survivors’ recovery, “At the Heart of Gold” is a fantastic option. It will undoubtedly break your heart, while also inspiring you to be an advocate for the voiceless. You can find this documentary on YouTube, HBO Max, Hulu, and Prime Video.
