A Dangerous Son (HBO)

About A Dangerous Son (HBO)

'A Dangerous Son' is a heartwrenching HBO documentary directed by Liz Garbus. The film, released in 2018, provides an in-depth look into the lives of three families struggling to find adequate mental health care services for their children who have serious emotional disturbances. The documentary underlines the shortcomings of America's mental health care system and the difficult situations many families face.

Making / Production

The Emmy-award winning director Liz Garbus helmed this project. She used her storytelling skills to make a powerful, socially aware film that draws attention to the issues faced by families who have children with mental illnesses. HBO's reputation for producing engaging and award-winning documentaries added weight to the film’s reach and impact.

Actors

As it is a documentary, 'A Dangerous Son' does not have traditional actors or roles. Instead, this compelling documentary features real people, struggling families, and professionals working in the mental health sector:

• Stacy Shapiro - Stacy is the mother of Ethan, whose story is deeply highlighted. Her journey of finding mental health support for her son forms a vital aspect of the film.
• Ethan Shapiro - The 15-year-old boy diagnosed with severe emotional disturbance. His struggles are poignantly portrayed.
• Experts and professionals - These individuals provide important insights into the challenges of the mental health system.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• Direcor Liz Garbus is known for confronting important social issues on film. Her portfolio includes 'The Execution of Wanda Jean' and 'The Farm: Angola, USA'.
• The documentary illustrates tragic instances of the failures of the mental health care system, among them, maternal exhaustion and severe resource limitations.

Awards

'A Dangerous Son' didn't win any major awards, but it was widely acclaimed for its accurate portrayal of the struggles and complexities related to juvenile mental health.

Quotes

• "There is no logic to what we go through." - Stacy Shapiro
• "We've just built this culture that if you can’t cope, there's pharmacology for that." - A mental health profession from the documentary.

Music, Soundtrack

There isn't a notable soundtrack for 'A Dangerous Son', as it is a documentary. However, the film utilizes ambient noise and sound effectively to punctuate emotion and tension.