In August 2023, thearrest of Ruby Franke, a famous American vlogger,for child abuse sent shockwaves through the United States. Known for her YouTube channel 8 Passengers, with almost 2.5 million subscribers, she posted videos featuring an ideal family.
The docuseries Ruby Franke: The Decline of a Model Family, directed by Olly Lambert and produced by Passion Pictures, takes us right to the heart of the matter. It gives a voice to Shari and Chad, the two eldest children, now adults, and to Kevin, Ruby Franke's husband. With exclusive access to relatives, neighbors and over a thousand hours of never-before-seen video footage, the series explores the behind-the-scenes of a carefully orchestrated case.
Ruby Franke: The Decline of a Model Family will air on Disney+ from March 21, 2025.
Synopsis: In August 2023, when popular vlogger Ruby Franke was arrested for child abuse, the news quickly made headlines across the US. For years, the Frankes' YouTube channel, which boasted nearly 2.5 million subscribers at its peak, has showcased a fulfilling family life. But appearances are often deceiving, and when the facade cracked, they turned to psychologist Jodi Hildebrandt, finding themselves plunged into a veritable nightmare. For the first time, Shari and Chad, the two eldest children, now adults, and Kevin, Ruby's husband, testify in front of the camera. This docuseries, with exclusive access to the Frankes, their friends and neighbors, and over a thousand hours of never-before-seen footage from their YouTube channel, goes beyond the social networking phenomenon and analyzes the little-known aspects of this case, combining initiation story, family tragedy and warning about the dangers of a life exposed on the Internet.
Ruby Franke: The Decline of a Model Family is sure to captivate fans of true crime, as well as enthusiasts of digital culture. By exploring the hidden face of family life exposed online, this series could also appeal to viewers curious about the excesses of social networking and the representation of parenthood on the Internet.
Viewers who have enjoyed titles such as The Social Dilemma, American Murder: The Family Next Door or Abducted in Plain Sight may find similar themes here: the media façade, family abuse, and the power of images in constructing a public narrative.
On the other hand, those with no interest in high-profile court cases or incriminating documentaries may want to skip the series, which promises to focus particularly on intimate testimonies and family grey areas.
With Ruby Franke: The Decline of a Model Family, Disney+ offers a documentary series that explores much more than just a scandal. This authentic and dramatic account reveals the consequences of an overexposed life, troubled family dynamics, and the psychological repercussions of a quest for digital perfection. A work in the tradition of great contemporary documentary investigations.
This article is based on information available online; we have not yet viewed the film or series mentioned.
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