...more A FRIEND OF THE FAMILY

June 20th, 2023 by Karen Burg

Broberg home...Photo courtesy Peacock

Set Decorator Summer Eubanks SDSA

Production Designer John D. Kretschmer

Peacock

A FRIEND OF THE FAMILY is based on the harrowing true story of the Broberg family, whose daughter Jan was kidnapped multiple times over a period of years by a charismatic, obsessed family “friend.” The Brobergs — devoted to their faith, family, and community — were utterly unprepared for the sophisticated tactics their neighbor used to exploit their vulnerabilities, drive them apart, and turn their daughter against them. This is the story of how their lives were permanently altered — and how they survived. -- Peacock

It's important to give you Peacock’s description [above] of this rather overwhelming mini-series, which is somewhat indescribable in terms of the subject matter, a smooth-talking pedophile/sexual predator who consistently and brazenly gets away with his exploits because he rationalizes away all of his actions as perfectly normal. Which makes it perfectly eerie, and uncomfortably so, as it and he seduce the viewer by top-rate writing, performances and the accurate depiction of a time...and places...when people were more susceptible to his “wholesome” characterizing.

As were those of our childhood, or of those who watched TV shows from that era, depicting the unobtrusive, wholesomeness of the period, and conveying the familial and community culture of the time, particularly those controlled by the mores of their religions. Much of it was beautiful and good, some was sordid.

Set Decorator Summer Eubanks SDSA and Production Designer John D. Kretschmer took a breath and committed to sharing the truth of this story, inspired by the once-victim now producer and actress Jan Broberg, and her mother, producer Mary Ann Broberg.

Their sets add credibility to the story, drawing the viewer into the seemingly absolutely normal family homes -- one was, the other only ostensibly so. However, in a commitment to the forthcoming of this bizarre and unsettling tale, every effort was made toward verisimilitude. Thus, we have the homes of the Broberg family, and the more well-off neighbors, the Berchtolds, headed by the manipulative, sociopathic, seemingly ideal friend of the family...

Editor's note:
Photos of the two families' homes appear below, including Jan's bedroom over time.
First, the Broberg's home re-created very true to the family's actual home, followed by the Berchtold house in the SHOW MORE PHOTOS section. The story behind each photo is incuded in the video conversation above.
Do make a point to watch the video.
Thank you, Summer and John, for sharing your dedicated and sensitive work...and Jan's story.