Ashley Peldon is frighteningly real as "Cat" a child who grew up abused and molested, who is then adopted by Mel Harris and Dwight Schultz. Despite their love and attention, the child gets worse (the scene where she abuses the family dog is rather chilling).
Harris learns that the child had a less than ideal upbringing; again this brings up the nature/nurture debate. Harris finally encounters a therapist (Mariette Hartley) who theorizes that the rage must be tapped into, to find the source of the child's pain.
What is interesting and valuable about this Lifetime movie is that it addresses a particular pathology, how the parents attempt to deal with it, and how the health care and/or social work system cannot or will not.
Mariette Hartley, whose father committed suicide (in real life) is very credible as the therapist, discussing rage and denial issues. With problems such as this, it seems society has only begun to skim the surface.
Always worthwhile filling a REQ........Admin, this can now be set to release.
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This was a torrent grab requiring a serious amount of editing, both to remove trailers at start & several lengthy blank periods that were probably commercials. File has ended up a bit undersize but I've resisted the temptation to re-encode to correct. Despite all of this the quality is not too bad.
I'm not entirely sure what to do with this but as it was the true-life documentary that resulted in the movie it seems logical to park it here. I'll also link to it from 'Documentaries'.
This is one of the very first HBO documentaries (the "America Undercover" series). It was filmed in 1989, and focuses on the case of "Beth", a girl who was severely abused, both sexual and physical by her father. Her and her younger brother were found in severe neglect, and later adopted by a couple who tried to help them. But Beth had a secret.
Filled with anger over her past abuse, she was hurting her younger brother, and the families dog in cruel ways.
This documentary is a true story, and was later made into the Lifetime film "Child of Rage". starring JoBeth Williams. Can Beth get the help she needs and learn to love again despite her past abuse??
Spoiler:
HBO - America Undercover - Child of Rage
"What happens when a child is deprived of love? What are the ramifications of a very young child be physically and sexually abused? What do you do when you are a naïve family who adopts a child who has been deeply damaged at a very young age? Can a young child really be capable of thoughts of murder? These are some of the issues which were addressed in the original HBO documentary Child of Rage which was produced in 1989.
Child of Rage is the story of Beth, an extremely disturbed six year old who has seen more horrors than any child should have to endure.
As the film opens, we hear the voice of a child screaming “I want to kill you mommy,” as the opening credits roll. This is the voice of Beth, a six-year-old child who had faced the loss of a mother, physical abuse, and sexual abuse all before the age of 19 months. Both Beth and her younger brother Jonathan were put up for adoption. They were adopted by a minister and his wife. This unsuspecting couple quickly learned that something was extremely wrong with Beth.
This terrifying and disturbing documentary traces Beth as she goes through therapy in Colorado. The video explains that Beth suffers from Reactive Attachment Disorder, an inability to trust and attach to others. This is frequently caused by severe abuse or neglect. As Beth is questioned about the things she has done. When asked if she has ever stuck pins in people, Beth answers that she has. The reason that she gives for doing this is, “I wanted him to die.” She also confesses to wanting her mommy and daddy to die. Beth also answers questions about physically assaulting her brother and doing sexual things to him. What increases the twisted factor to this is Beth’s lack of any real emotion about what she is discussing. She is as laid back and nonchalant about these things as you would expect a child talking about there day at kindergarten to be. It is as if she has no conscience. Unfortunately, this is all too accurate of a way to look at it.
Beth’s early traumas, experienced before the age of five, have affected her ability to care about others. She is unable to trust others because she had that trust broken and abused at such a tender age when the bonds of attachment are being formed.
The good news is that RAD (Reactive Attachment Disorder), does not have to be permanent. Through intensive and exhausting therapy (both for the child and the adoptive, foster, or biological parent), a child can learn to love and trust again. As the video progresses, we see Beth beginning to feel remorse for the deeds that she has done.
This is a chilling video that is not for the faint of heart. Although The video is 30 years old, it is still relevant today. RAD still exists. Very young children are still traumatized by severe abuse and neglect. And unsuspecting families are still victimized by these tiny victimize children turned victimizer. Child of Rage should be required reading for all foster, foster/adopt and adoptive families. You can view this video on youtube. It is divided into three parts totaling a little over 27 minutes.
For more information on RAD go to http://www.radkid.org. The diagnostic qualities of RAD can be found in the DSM-IV-TR for Diagnoses."
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103955/
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