Movies about child abuse- Mental Health Related Films

Human lives and behaviour are far more nuanced and emotive than any psychiatric diagnostic system or symptom checklist can ever portray.

Most people recognise aspects of themselves in at least a few psychiatric diagnostic categories. The difference between normal and disorder is not straightforward and often has more to do with degree rather than kind, i.e. does it cause big problems?

While movies are not perfect depictions of reality, they often present themes in relatable, enriching, usefully challenging, and thought-provoking ways.

We invite you to explore mental health through movies that raise awareness, open dialogue, present complexity, entertain, and/or normalise experiences.

Click to see the Ultimate List of Mental Health Movies index

What is Child Abuse?

child abuse is when a parent or caregiver causes emotional harm, risk of serious harm, injury, or death to a child. Ignoring children’s needs and exposing them to sexual situations are also forms of child abuse.

It is important to help if you suspect a child is suffering from abuse. By speaking out and reaching out to the authorities, both the child and the abuser can get the help they need.

In psychiatry, child abuse is defined in the DSM-5 (diagnostic manual) as follows…

Child Physical Abuse

Child physical abuse is nonaccidental physical injury to a child—ranging from minor bruises to severe fractures or death—occurring as a result of punching, beating, kicking, biting, shaking, throwing, stabbing, choking, hitting (with a hand, stick, strap, or other objects), burning, or any other method that is inflicted by a parent, caregiver, or another individual who has responsibility for the child. Such injury is considered abuse regardless of whether the caregiver intended to hurt the child.

Child Sexual Abuse

child sexual abuse encompasses any sexual act involving a child that is intended to provide sexual gratification to a parent, caregiver, or other individuals. Sexual abuse also includes noncontact exploitation of a child —for example, forcing, tricking, enticing, threatening, or pressuring a child to participate in acts for the sexual gratification of others, without direct physical contact between child and abuser.

Child Neglect

Child neglect is defined as any confirmed or suspected egregious act or omission by a child's parent or other caregivers that deprives the child of basic age-appropriate needs and thereby results, or has reasonable potential to result, in physical or psychological harm to the child. Child neglect encompasses abandonment; lack of appropriate supervision; failure to attend to necessary emotional or psychological needs; and failure to provide education, medical care, nourishment, shelter, and/or clothing

Child Psychological Abuse

Child psychological abuse is nonaccidental verbal or symbolic acts by a child's parent or caregiver that result, or have reasonable potential to result, in significant psychological harm to the child. Examples of psychological abuse of a child include berating, disparaging, or humiliating the child; threatening the child; harming/abandoning—or indicating that the alleged offender will harm/abandon—people or things that the child cares about; confining the child; egregious scapegoating of the child; coercing the child to inflict pain on himself or herself; and disciplining the child excessively through physical or nonphysical means.

Movies about Child Abuse

If we missed an essential film about child abuse, please let us know. We would love to include it.

Note: Movies may trigger painful memories and emotions. Please use your judgement and ensure support is available if need be.

Movie Title: Postcard to Daddy

Release: 2010

Rated: 7.6

Cast: Margret Bartholomé, Anja Stock-Hüttl, Christian Stock

Storyline: Michael Stock, who endured childhood sexual abuse by his own father, embarks on a journey towards inner peace as he confronts the haunting memories and explores the far-reaching consequences that have impacted his family members.

Movie Title: Little Tickles

Release: 2018

Rated: 7.2

Cast: Andréa Bescond, Karin Viard, Clovis Cornillac

Storyline: A dancer named Andréa seeks therapy to confront and heal from the traumatic experiences of childhood sexual abuse, leading her on a harrowing but ultimately hopeful journey of self-discovery and empowerment.

Movie Title: Mockingbird Don't Sing - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2001

Rated: 6.4

Cast: Melissa Errico, Michael Lerner, Joe Regalbuto

Storyline: Based on a true story, it portrays the harrowing journey of Genie, a modern-day feral child who endured severe child abuse, as she is taken in by a linguistics professor, and together they navigate the challenges of her rehabilitation and attempt to give her a voice and a chance at a better life.

Movie Title: Capernaum - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2018

Rated: 8.4

Cast: Zain Al Rafeea, Yordanos Shiferaw, Boluwatife Treasure Bankole

Storyline: Set in present-day Lebanon, the story revolves around Zain, an eleven-year-old boy who, after experiencing severe child abuse, finds himself serving a sentence for stabbing a man and embarks on a journey to sue his neglectful parents for giving him life in such dire circumstances.

Movie Title: Room - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2015

Rated: 8.1

Cast: Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay, Sean Bridgers

Storyline: A young woman and her five-year-old son, who have been held captive in a small room for years, must find the strength and resilience to escape their abuser and navigate the challenging journey of reintegrating into the outside world.

Movie Title: A Girl at My Door

Release: 2014

Rated: 7.0

Cast: Bae Doona, Kim Sae-ron, Sae-byeok Song

Storyline: A policewoman, extends her care to an abused girl, facing the complex challenges of protecting the child while unraveling a web of secrets and confronting the harsh realities of child abuse.

Movie Title: Mother

Release: 2020

Rated: 6.7

Cast: Masami Nagasawa, Sadao Abe, Halo Asada

Storyline: The film focuses on a boy who seems destined for a childhood of abuse and pain. His mother, who has no logical approach to parenting, brings him to chaos.

Movie Title: I Know My First Name Is Steven (TV Movie) - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1989

Rated: 7.8

Cast: Cindy Pickett, John Ashton, Corin Nemec

Storyline: A miniseries about Steven Stayner who was a victim of child abuse and sexual abuse. He is kidnapped by a man for seven years.

Movie Title: The People Under the Stairs - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1991

Rated: 6.3

Cast: Brandon Quintin Adams, Wendy Robbie, Everet McGill

Storyline: A resident who is evicted by his landlords, breaks into their house. He discovers a disturbing scenario where they kept inside their house a number of children who are victims of child abuse.

Movie Title: Just Ask My Children (TV Movie) - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2001

Rated: 7.3

Cast: Virginia Madsen, Graham Beckel, Jeffrey Nordling

Storyline: A couple is accused of child abuse by someone with a grudge against them. For over a decade, they fight to prove their innocence.

Movie Title: Hard Candy - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2005

Rated: 7.1

Cast: Patrick Wilson, Elliot Page, Sandra Oh

Storyline: A teenage girl plays a trick on a photographer she met online. She believes that he is a suspect for child abuse, rape , and murder. She starts doing unexpected things.

Movie Title: Aurore (French) - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2005

Rated: 7.4

Cast: Marianne Fortier, Serge Postiga, Hèléne Bourgeois Leclerc

Storyline: Based on a true story, a young girl is a victim of child abuse by her stepmother. Her death gives voice to those who, at that time, knew what was going on but remained silent.

Movie Title: The Girl Next Door - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2007

Rated: 6

Cast: William Atherton, Blanch Baker, Blythe Auffarth

Storyline: A young girl is a victim of child abuse by her aunt and cousins. They encouraged the neighbourhood boys to torment the girl but one boy tries to rescue her.

Movie Title: The Tale - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2018

Rated: 7.3

Cast: Laura Dern, Jason Ritter, Elizabeth Debicki

Storyline: A documentary filmmaker is a victim of child sexual abuse. As she is filming a documentary on childhood rape victims, she starts to starts to question her childhood relationship with her riding instructor and running coach.

References and Links

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596

What is child abuse?: https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/child-abuse.html

More on child abuse: https://www.helpguide.org/articles/abuse/child-abuse-and-neglect.htm

Child abuse according to Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_abuse

Acknowledgements

The above article was written under my close direction and supervision. However, much credit goes to Charlene Poliquit (my right-hand man) and Andri Eigenberger (my beloved aunt) for their huge efforts in bringing this task to life.

Vincenzo Sinisi

Image by Alexas_Fotos from Pixabay