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      Mockingbird Don't Sing

      Released May 4, 2001 1h 40m Drama List
      Reviews 72% 1,000+ Ratings Audience Score In 1970, 13-year-old Katie Standon (Tarra Steele) gains national media attention for having suffered through one of the most extreme cases of child abuse ever discovered. After being locked in a closet for 12 years, Katie is unable to speak or function properly in the outside world. With the attention Katie now receives, researchers and social workers from all over offer to help her -- but not all of them have entirely pure intentions, as some only seek to garner fame from her spotlight. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Premiered Feb 01 Buy Now

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      Audience Reviews

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      Audience Member Based on the true story of Genie, 13 year old girl who gained media attention in 1970 being saved from the biggest form of child abuse. She was raised as feral and developed no social or communication skills. But a linguistics professor takes her in to teach her to talk, form sentences, and fight against the red tape of exploiting her fame. Lots of emotional baggage the family had explaining why Genie turned out the way she did. Tara Steel does wonders playing this girl and Melissa Errico is excellent as the professor acting as a surrogate mother. Critical period hypothesis was proved legitimate by Genie's inability to master a language. It stinks though this linguistics professor was forbidden to interact with her anymore despite the bond they shared. Plus showing how the system failed helping this child when she needed it most. Downbeat ending I gotta say but a drama that works showing there's hope for all children whom have never had a normal upbringing. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/06/23 Full Review Audience Member while the story is very tragic, the writing and dialogue was very poor. The story has no ending, you'd think they would have done some research. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review Audience Member The effects of not having a normal childhood can mess up a persons well being greatly. In Los Angeles 1970 a young girl, Katie Standon is treated like an animal the entire time she grows up. She is locked in a room by her father and tied to a chair. She's completely malnourished and has no social skills. The amount of isolation from the outside world has affected her psychologically as well as socially. Katie's then discovered by a woman Sandra Tannen gaining the attention of the media. This is based on a true story being that it's one of the biggest forms of child abuse ever recorded. The big challenge is for Katie to adapt and learn how to communicate with the outside world. Yet there's plenty of people who would rather use this opportunity to use her fame for their own self interest. One in particular Dr. Judy Bingham who puts off Sandra's intentions to actually help Katie develop her interpersonal skills. What's interesting is that Katie develops her own method of communicating without actually using verbal cues and she still affects people without knowing it. Sandra wants to help her very much but she has to fight against the red tape first. Katie is taught to put words together, eat properly, interact with other people, understand her sexual awakening all while Child Services and Development of Mental Health determine the best course of action for her upbringing. It's a challenge but Sandra wants Katie to be the best she can be. Tara Steele gives a skyrocketing performance as this little girl going from feral , anti-social to warm, loving and impacting. Melissa Errico is excellent as Sandra wanting to be the surrogate mother figure. We also see the emotional baggage of why this family treated Katie the way they did. It's sad seeing how the system failed this child when she needed help the most and the ending was pretty downbeat I gotta say. But this story proves all children can be helped even if they didn't have a normal upbringing. They shouldn't be ignored just cared for. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Audience Member When Social Services are involved, there will Always be an unhappy ending. . . JULY 16, 2020 Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Audience Member Worst movie ever. But since it's based on a true story then I guess that was a good adaption. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Audience Member A heartbreaking movie that built up and built up but led to nothing. What a tragically bad way to end such a great movie. Still quite interesting and worth a watch. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Critics Reviews

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      Christopher Null Filmcritic.com Where's the media attention and the constant attempts to take advantage of the poor girl? Even the lackluster Nell got that right. Rated: 2.5/5 Mar 29, 2003 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis In 1970, 13-year-old Katie Standon (Tarra Steele) gains national media attention for having suffered through one of the most extreme cases of child abuse ever discovered. After being locked in a closet for 12 years, Katie is unable to speak or function properly in the outside world. With the attention Katie now receives, researchers and social workers from all over offer to help her -- but not all of them have entirely pure intentions, as some only seek to garner fame from her spotlight.
      Director
      Harry Bromley-Davenport
      Screenwriter
      Daryl Haney
      Production Co
      Dorian Films, Genieworks
      Genre
      Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      May 4, 2001, Limited
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Jun 7, 2017
      Runtime
      1h 40m
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