Top movies about child abuse/domestic violence
by hagermahdy | created - 18 Mar 2014 | updated - 01 Apr 2014 | Public- Instant Watch Options
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1. Mysterious Skin (2004)
Unrated | 105 min | Drama
Two pre-adolescent boys both experienced a strange event and later it affects their lives in different ways. One becomes a reckless, sexually adventurous prostitute, while the other retreats into a reclusive fantasy of alien abduction.
Director: Gregg Araki | Stars: Brady Corbet, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Elisabeth Shue, Chase Ellison
Votes: 76,223 | Gross: $0.70M
2. Little Children (2006)
R | 137 min | Drama, Romance
The lives of two lovelorn spouses from separate marriages, a registered sex offender, and a disgraced ex-police officer intersect as they struggle to resist their vulnerabilities and temptations in suburban Massachusetts.
Director: Todd Field | Stars: Kate Winslet, Jennifer Connelly, Patrick Wilson, Jackie Earle Haley
Votes: 116,663 | Gross: $5.46M
3. My Little Princess (2011)
105 min | Drama
When Hanah re-emerges in the life of her pre-pubescent daughter, she comes with a strange, yet attractive proposition: she needs her own girl to pose for her in ways that would later take by surprise the Parisian art world of the 1970s.
Director: Eva Ionesco | Stars: Isabelle Huppert, Anamaria Vartolomei, Georgetta Leahu, Denis Lavant
Votes: 1,881
How much power do parents have over children? According to French director Eva Ionesko, a child can only be “more or less safe.” The filmmaker, who was once abused by her own mother, told RT how she managed to turn her nightmare into a film.
4. The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things (2004)
R | 97 min | Drama
Seven-year-old Jeremiah is pulled from his foster home and thrown into a troubled life on the road with his teenage mother, Sarah.
Director: Asia Argento | Stars: Asia Argento, Dylan Sprouse, Cole Sprouse, Jimmy Bennett
Votes: 7,133 | Gross: $0.03M
The dysfunctional twenty-three years old Sarah takes her six years old natural son Jeremiah from the home of his beloved foster parents with the support of the social service to live with her. Along the years, the boy shares her insane and lowlife style and is introduced to booze and drugs and mentally, physically and sexually abused by Sarah, her lovers and her religiously fanatic family
5. Gardens of the Night (2008)
R | 110 min | Drama
After being abducted as children, and suffering years of abuse, a teenage boy and girl find themselves living on the street.
Director: Damian Harris | Stars: Gillian Jacobs, John Malkovich, Ryan Simpkins, Tom Arnold
Votes: 4,689
An 8-year-old girl is taken from her home and convinced that her family does not want her anymore. After enduring years of horror, she and her fellow victim are dumped by their captures. Now, 17 years old and no one to turn to, except each other they do their best to survive life on the streets, until one day she finally accepts the help of a shelter counselor to find her way home. However, what she truly finds is the love of her life and that you can never go back. "Gardens of the Night", is a haunting, gritty and topical story which delves deep into the world of child abduction and where it often leads...for the "lucky ones." The writer/director, Damian Harris bases his story on the kids, counselors, cops and pimps he met during two years of research.
6. Song for a Raggy Boy (2003)
TV-MA | 94 min | Drama, History
The true story of a single teacher's courage to stand up against an untouchable prefect's sadistic disciplinary regime and other abuse in a Catholic Reformatory and Industrial School in 1939 Ireland.
Director: Aisling Walsh | Stars: Aidan Quinn, Iain Glen, Marc Warren, Dudley Sutton
Votes: 4,775
based on the true story of a single teacher's courage to stand up against an untouchable prefect's sadistic disciplinary regime and other abuse in a Catholic Reformatory and Industrial School in 1939 Ireland.
7. L'amore molesto (1995)
104 min | Drama, Mystery, Romance
When an elderly woman dies--apparently happy but in curious circumstances--her daughter travels home to Naples for the funeral. Staying on, she tries to piece together her mother's recent ... See full summary »
Director: Mario Martone | Stars: Anna Bonaiuto, Angela Luce, Piero Tassitano, Giovanni Viglietti
Votes: 658
When her elderly mother dies - apparently happy but in curious circumstances - her daughter travels home to Naples for the funeral. Staying on, she tries to piece together her mother's recent life. In doing so she starts to confront childhood memories that shaped the family history.
8. Domestic Violence (2001)
196 min | Documentary
Renowned documentarian Frederick Wiseman turns his observational camera on The Spring, a Florida shelter for battered women and children. For one-hundred and ninety-six minutes, Wiseman ... See full summary »
Director: Frederick Wiseman
Votes: 326
9. Domestic Violence (2007 Video)
7 min | Short, Drama
This film presents the harsh reality of domestic violence, and the benefits for the victim in leaving the abusive situation.
Director: Dean Ginsburg | Star: Adam Kennedy
10. Capturing the Friedmans (2003)
Not Rated | 107 min | Documentary, Biography, Crime
Documentary on the Friedmans, a seemingly typical, upper-middle-class Jewish family whose world is instantly transformed when the father and his youngest son are arrested and charged with shocking and horrible crimes.
Director: Andrew Jarecki | Stars: Arnold Friedman, Jesse Friedman, David Friedman, Elaine Friedman
Votes: 27,072 | Gross: $3.12M
Documentary on the Friedmans, a seemingly typical, upper-middleclass Jewish family whose world is instantly transformed when the father and his youngest son are arrested and charged with shocking and horrible crimes.
11. ChickenHawk (1994)
55 min | Documentary, Crime
Members of the controversial group NAMBLA (North American Man/Boy Love Association) discuss why their organization supports "boys and men who have or desire engagements in sexual or emotional relationships."
Director: Adi Sideman | Stars: Barbara Adler, Mimi Turner, Bill Andriette, Bill Bickly
Votes: 386
Members of the controversial group NAMBLA (North American Man/Boy Love Association) discuss why their organization supports "boys and men who have or desire engagements in sexual or emotional relationships."
12. Postcard to Daddy (2010)
86 min | Documentary
As a child, Michael Stock was sexually abused - by his own father. 25 years later he is still looking for inner peace. In conversations with his family and friends and his own reflections, ... See full summary »
Director: Michael Stock | Stars: Margret Bartholomé, Anja Stock-Hüttl, Christian Stock, Roland Stock
Votes: 72
As a child, Michael Stock was sexually abused - by his own father. 25 years later he is still looking for inner peace. In conversations with his family and friends and his own reflections, he paints an ever clearer, if contradictory picture of what happened and of the consequences for each of the family members
13. The Cell (2000)
R | 107 min | Crime, Horror, Sci-Fi
An F.B.I. Agent persuades a social worker, who is adept with a new experimental technology, to enter the mind of a comatose serial killer in order to learn where he has hidden his latest kidnap victim.
Director: Tarsem Singh | Stars: Jennifer Lopez, Vince Vaughn, Vincent D'Onofrio, Colton James
Votes: 109,026 | Gross: $61.33M
the serial killer has dark memories that are pretty disturbing
14. Sybil (2007 TV Movie)
TV-14 | 89 min | Biography, Drama
A true story of a young woman whose abusive childhood results in her developing a multiple personality disorder.
Director: Joseph Sargent | Stars: Jessica Lange, Tammy Blanchard, Ron White, JoBeth Williams
Votes: 1,758
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1_Z6-v4uT0
15. Child Abuse (1976 TV Movie)
30 min | Drama
Director: R. Durrell Robinson | Stars: Beck, Beau Billingslea, Joseph Campanella, Lowell Dean
Votes: 12
16. Enough (I) (2002)
PG-13 | 115 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
After running away fails, a terrified woman empowers herself in order to battle her abusive husband.
Director: Michael Apted | Stars: Jennifer Lopez, Billy Campbell, Tessa Allen, Juliette Lewis
Votes: 47,716 | Gross: $40.01M
17. Bastard Out of Carolina (1996)
R | 98 min | Drama
A mother and daughter find their lives adversely affected when a new man enters the picture. Will their family ever be what they expect?
Director: Anjelica Huston | Stars: Jennifer Jason Leigh, Ron Eldard, Glenne Headly, Lyle Lovett
Votes: 4,804
18. The Girl Next Door (2007)
R | 91 min | Crime, Drama, Horror
Follows the unspeakable torture and abuses committed on a teenage girl in the care of her aunt and the boys who witness and fail to report the crime.
Director: Gregory Wilson | Stars: William Atherton, Blythe Auffarth, Blanche Baker, Kevin Chamberlin
Votes: 29,355
19. Once Were Warriors (1994)
R | 102 min | Crime, Drama
A family descended from Maori warriors is bedeviled by a violent father and the societal problems of being treated as outcasts.
Director: Lee Tamahori | Stars: Rena Owen, Temuera Morrison, Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell, Julian Arahanga
Votes: 36,809 | Gross: $2.20M
Its an older film and depicts a New Zealand family in peril.
"domestic violence and child abuse
Gardens of the Night - abduction, child prostitution, sexual child abuse"
20. Provoked (2006)
Not Rated | 113 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
Based on the true story of Kiranjit Ahluwalia, a Punjabi woman, who was abused by her husband for 10 years. After killing her husband in self-defense, Ahluwalia is imprisoned as those close to her fight to set her free.
Director: Jag Mundhra | Stars: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Michael Watson, Miranda Richardson, Naveen Andrews
Votes: 2,233
Indian film - domestic violence, similar to The Burning Bed
21. Lilya 4-Ever (2002)
R | 109 min | Crime, Drama
Sixteen-year-old Lilja and her only friend, the young boy Volodja, live in Russia, fantasizing about a better life. One day, Lilja falls in love with Andrej, who is going to Sweden, and invites Lilja to come along and start a new life.
Director: Lukas Moodysson | Stars: Oksana Akinshina, Artyom Bogucharskiy, Pavel Ponomaryov, Lyubov Agapova
Votes: 49,337 | Gross: $0.18M
child prostitution, domestic violence, neglect
22. Take My Eyes (2003)
Not Rated | 109 min | Drama, Romance
One winter night, Pilar runs away from home. With her, she takes only a few belongings and her son, Juan. Antonio soon sets out to look for her. He says Pilar is his sunshine, and what's more, "She gave him her eyes"...
Director: Icíar Bollaín | Stars: Laia Marull, Luis Tosar, Candela Peña, Rosa Maria Sardà
Votes: 7,471 | Gross: $0.03M
Spanish - domestic violence, stalking
23. Kuchisake-onna (2007)
Not Rated | 90 min | Drama, Horror, Thriller
A suburban town in Japan is the victim of what is supposedly just an urban legend, a woman's spirit with a horribly disfigured face who is intent on kidnapping children for unknown reasons.
Director: Kôji Shiraishi | Stars: Eriko Satô, Haruhiko Katô, Chiharu Kawai, Rie Kuwana
Votes: 3,045
Carved (aka A Slit-Mouthed Woman) Japanese - child abuse (it's a horror film, but the theme focuses on abusive mothers)
24. Diary of a Mad Housewife (1970)
R | 95 min | Comedy, Drama
A housewife with an abusive husband has an affair with a writer.
Director: Frank Perry | Stars: Richard Benjamin, Frank Langella, Carrie Snodgress, Lorraine Cullen
Votes: 2,157 | Gross: $2.78M
Diary of a Mad Housewife (1970) - domestic violence (it was well known in its time but largely forgotten today)
25. 3-Iron (2004)
R | 88 min | Crime, Drama, Romance
A transient young man breaks into empty homes to partake of the vacationing residents' lives for a few days.
Director: Kim Ki-duk | Stars: Lee Seung-yun, Jae Hee, Hyuk-ho Kwon, Joo Jin-mo
Votes: 58,228 | Gross: $0.24M
Korean - domestic violence
26. Song of the Shattered (2010)
Unrated | 99 min | Drama, Horror, Romance
After killing her abusive husband, a young woman finds that it is harder to move on with her life than she immediately thought she would be, which yields horrific results for those closest to her.
Directors: Wolfgang Meyer, Brandon Slagle | Stars: Devanny Pinn, Brandon Slagle, Tara Cardinal, Deneen Melody
Votes: 90
Song of the Shattered (2010) - domestic violence
27. Pixote (1980)
TV-MA | 128 min | Crime, Drama
The life of a boy on the streets of Sao Paulo, involved with crimes, prostitution, and drugs.
Director: Hector Babenco | Stars: Fernando Ramos da Silva, Jorge Julião, Gilberto Moura, Edilson Lino
Votes: 9,212
Brazilian - abandonment, child abuse, crime
28. Nil by Mouth (1997)
R | 128 min | Drama
A rough, short-tempered patriarch of a working-class family sees his life and the relationships around him slowly unravel.
Director: Gary Oldman | Stars: Ray Winstone, Kathy Burke, Charlie Creed-Miles, Laila Morse
Votes: 10,184
Nil by Mouth (1997) British - domestic violence
29. The Breach (1970)
124 min | Drama
A father injures his son. He moves in with parents who blame the child's mother. They hire someone to find info about her for an upcoming custody hearing. He and girlfriend secretly lodge at her boarding home to undermine her life.
Director: Claude Chabrol | Stars: Stéphane Audran, Jean-Pierre Cassel, Michel Bouquet, Annie Cordy
Votes: 1,931
La Rupture / The Breach (1970) French - child abuse
30. Mouchette (1967)
Not Rated | 81 min | Drama
A young girl living in the French countryside suffers constant indignities at the hand of alcoholism and her fellow man.
Director: Robert Bresson | Stars: Nadine Nortier, Jean-Claude Guilbert, Marie Cardinal, Paul Hébert
Votes: 12,965
31. The Burning Bed (1984 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 95 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
An abused battered wife has had enough of her husband beating up on her. Everywhere she turns for help, there's not much anyone will do. After he rapes her one night, she sets the bed on fire with him in it asleep.
Director: Robert Greenwald | Stars: Farrah Fawcett, Paul Le Mat, Richard Masur, Grace Zabriskie
Votes: 3,427
Farrah Fawcett gave a solid performance as a battered wife
32. Men Don't Tell (1993 TV Movie)
TV-14 | 95 min | Drama
This movie shows another side to spousal abuse that not too many people thought is possible--the husband being abused and the wife the abuser.
Director: Harry Winer | Stars: Peter Strauss, Judith Light, James Gammon, Noble Willingham
Votes: 398
husband is a victim of domestic violence
33. Firstborn (1984)
PG-13 | 103 min | Drama, Thriller
A teenager must protect his family when his mother's sinister new boyfriend begins exerting his authority in their home.
Director: Michael Apted | Stars: Teri Garr, Peter Weller, Christopher Collet, Corey Haim
Votes: 2,893 | Gross: $6.25M
First Born (1984) - child abuse
34. 2:37 (2006)
Not Rated | 91 min | Drama
At 2:37, someone commits suicide in the school lavatory. The day is told up to that point from the viewpoint of six different students.
Director: Murali K. Thalluri | Stars: Teresa Palmer, Frank Sweet, Sam Harris, Charles Baird
Votes: 7,358
35. Ken Park (2002)
Not Rated | 93 min | Drama
Ken Park is about several Californian skateboarders' lives and relationships with and without their parents.
Directors: Larry Clark, Edward Lachman | Stars: Adam Chubbuck, James Bullard, Seth Gray, Eddie Daniels
Votes: 30,794
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