Movie: Mockingbird Don't Sing (2002)

Director: Harry Bromley Davenport
Casts: Joe Regalbuto, Melissa Errico, Sean Young, Tarra Steele
Run time: 98 minutes

This movie is based on actual events surrounding a girl named Genie. Fictitious names were used instead of the actual names of the people involved in the events.

Katie Standon (Tarra Steele) was kept locked in a closet by her parents. She was confined to a chair, provided only with diapers, a pail and some toys. Katie was never taught to speak and she was taken care of her father when her mother's eyesight become worse as she has cataracts. Katie's father had not only abused her physically but emotionally as well. She was tormented until she was discovered fourteen years later, in November 1970.

It seems like the whole idea of abusing Katie stemmed from her father, as a way of remembering her deceased grandmother. However, the story focused on how Katie learn to talk and reintegrate into the society, although her attempts were often interrupted by the intrusive Dr. Judy Bingham (Sean Young) and other researchers interested in her, who was labelled as a 'wild child'.

On the other hand, a social worker, Sandra, has endlessly tried to help Katie to assimilate into the society as a young lady. Linguistically, the 'Critical Stage Hypothesis', which says a child will face many difficulties learning a new language after the critical stage period is over was proved wrong.

Final judgment: A very good movie, especially for those interested in child language development. I cannot believe that such cruel torment could occur in the past.