A Peloton of One (2020) Film Review
The instant reaction with a film like A Peloton of One is being infuriated at everything that’s being revealed.
It’s a curious feeling as the facts shown in the documentary are widely known, sadly more common than we think, and part of a harrowing reality in our modern society. This isn’t new. Sexual abuse and other related crimes, are shown, confirmed, even confessed every day. When the film confirms the root of something so beautiful like a personal triumph, is actually a horrific crime, you almost jump with an accusatory attitude.
And I believe there is something beyond this. A few minutes in and, as it usually happens with documentaries of this nature, we come to meet the product of a huge emotional scar: a man haunted by his past with a powerful drive to cancel it. Dave Ohlmuller is his name and he’s the face of A Peloton of One.
A Peloton of One is a documentary about a man who decided to do something about an intimate scar that held him prisoner in a memory. He was sexually assaulted by a priest when he was younger. To raise awareness, he has decided to make his change something more visible. He has decided to go from Illinois to New Jersey on his bicycle. A physical change accompanied by a spiritual overcoming that’s admirable to say the least.
But he’s not alone. A Peloton of One isn’t about one. The film extends beyond the boundaries of its storyline to complement the story with realism, and more facts pertaining to the abuse carried out by priests in some states. A Peloton of One goes beyond Dave’s traumatic experiences to tell the stories of more survivors.
Even if you think you’ve heard or seen it all, I can guarantee you haven’t. This is a viral issue that doesn’t stop to consider genders, age, and even social status. The film gets out of its comfort zone to shed light on an important subject: a political situation that’s honestly, quite unbelievable. Mixed with Dave’s fantastic journey, we get testimonies by those involved with the cause from a legislative perspective. It’s uncanny how we have to listen to survivors while some have to fight to be heard.
Above you will find the words “modern society”, and honestly, it feels ironic. There’s nothing modern about a firm stance by parents who decide priests are above children. In a horrific confession, a woman must tell the tale of how her own family decided a priest committed sexual assault because there was flirting in between. It’s inexplicable.
A Peloton of One is a cousin to other high-profile documentaries (in films and TV) that refer to this problem as well. This one has an important figure in Ohlmuller who’s definitely on the healing part of the problem, but isn’t quite out of there yet. This is a survivor, a hero who has decided to speak, and that’s his biggest power yet: to use his remarkable words and energy to fight something that feels unbeatable. But I assure, we can defeat this. Only you and I have to join the battle. The first thing to do? Believe in those that dare to speak.
