dissolution Review of A Child's Cry for Help

A Child's Cry for Help (1994 TV Movie)

A doctor suspects a mother of mistreating her child. Is she right or are her own failings as a mother interfering with her work?

[8/10 · 24 November 2005]

This movie is about a doctor who is new at a hospital. She instantly goes about making sure her place there is known. A young boy is brought in suspected of having an infected appendix. He has an operation to remove it but afterwards he gets really sick. He gets sicker and sicker and no one knows why and it seems as though someone is making him sick. His mother is devoted to being by her child throughout everything he goes through, so much so that she is by his bedside 18 hours a day and rarely does anything for herself. Everyone sees her as a saint and a loving mother. But the new doctor suspects the mother of having a psychiatric disorder. This disorder is known as Munchausen's Syndrome by Proxy. The syndrome is where a parent (or a carer) of the child will harm them intentionally so that they can get attention off doctors and other people.

I have to admit, the film makers have balls to make a film about this subject. Especially considering that most people do not even believe in this syndrome. The film is really well done and should be given a lot of credit for doing what they did with the set being limited to so few places. The storyline was top notch and could have been written by Hollywood's best.

The acting, while not perfect, was still pretty good. Pam Dawber should be given a lot of credit for selling her character so good. She really convinced me with her portrayal of the mother. Veronica Hamel also did well with the doctors character.

The rest of the cast were pretty good as well.

I definitely recommend this movie to anyone who likes a good story. 8 out of 10 is a very worthy score.