Dramatic TV movies
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- DirectorWaris HusseinStarsEllen BurstynLen CariouZach GalliganPromising student Rick Brogan discovers that his father, whom he idolizes, is cheating on his mother. Heartbroken, he finds comfort in the arms of his old crush, but her father opposes the relationship, which pushes Rick over the edge.
- DirectorMichael TuchnerStarsDaniel J. TravantiJoBeth WilliamsMartha ScottAfter their child is abducted, John and Reve Walsh are trying to find him. But, shortly after that, Adam is found dead.
- DirectorRobert MarkowitzStarsDaniel J. TravantiJoBeth WilliamsRichard MasurFollows the true story of John and Reve Walsh who, after their child was murdered, fought to raise national awareness of the problem of missing children.
- DirectorRanda HainesStarsTed DansonGlenn CloseOlivia ColeCounseling helps a family deal with the discovery that their daughter was sexually abused by a close relative.
- DirectorJohn ErmanStarsBernadette PetersJohn GloverDan LauriaThe true story of David Rothenberg whose disturbed father set him on fire.
- DirectorMichael SwitzerStarsPatty DukeMelissa GilbertBradley PierceMichael, a young autistic boy who has trouble with verbalization but a real talent for technology, uses a computer to plead for help after being molested at his school.
- DirectorBill CorcoranStarsMelissa GilbertKate NelliganShirley DouglasA child-molestation survivor embarks on a crusade of justice when the legal system fails to come to the rescue of a child incest victim protected by her law practice.
- DirectorJohn David ColesStarsMarlee MatlinMelissa GilbertPeter FrechetteCarrie Buck is an intellectually-disabled young woman who is persuaded to fight against the courts for custody of her newborn daughter after being declared mentally incompetent, therefore unable to raise her own child by herself. She is also threatened with sterilization so she won't have any more children who might also be disabled.
- DirectorSandor SternStarsMelissa GilbertScott ValentineBarry TubbFact-based story about the emotional trauma and following legal problems of a young woman who was raped by an acquaintance.
- DirectorClaudia WeillStarsBeverly D'AngeloDana IveyMichael McGradyIn the 1970's, a teenager staying in an unwed mothers' institution is forced to give up her baby. Eighteen years later, she discovers that her child is dead, and that he was possibly murdered by his religiously -strict adoptive mom.
- DirectorGilbert CatesStarsLindsay WagnerPeter CoyoteTaliesin JaffeA social worker (Lindsay Wagner) starts to work with a shy, withdrawn 6-year-old (Taliesin Jaffe) whom she suspects is a sexual-abuse victim.
- DirectorArtie MandelbergStarsPark OverallJason BegheSeth AdkinsA woman is reunited with her kidnapped son after five years; unfortunately she discovers that he has a near-infantile mindset and apparent mental problems. Will she give up on Andrew or try to help him work through the abuse he suffered?
- DirectorRichard MichaelsStarsSally StruthersJames WoodsRandee HellerA couple whose son had been institutionalized after being diagnosed as intellectually disabled are shocked to discover that the diagnosis was wrong: their son is deaf.
- DirectorLinda OttoStarsJill ClayburghBrad DavisSam BehrensThe story of child psychologists Dr. Laurie and Joseph Braga and their involvement in one of the worst child sex abuse scandals in the U.S.
- DirectorGilbert CatesStarsPam DawberJohn SheaStephen DorffA police officer and his wife are shocked to find that molestation has been going on at the neighborhood day care. They're devastated when they find that their own son might be a victim too. Should they have known, should they have seen?
- DirectorMike RobeStarsLinda HamiltonPiper LaurieJoshua HarrisA young couple faces the realities of life with their child who is diagnosed with AIDS.
- DirectorTom McLoughlinStarsValerie BertinelliStephen CaffreyGraham BeckelNewlywed Laurie Wade's marriage and eventually her whole life shatters because of her deep-rooted psychotic behavior. She goes from brief "short circuits" to overtly murderous behavior. The film never tries to explain the cause of her mental collapse, except for a hint or two, but instead takes us into her frightening state of mind.
- DirectorJorge MontesiStarsArt HindleRosemary DunsmoreSusan HoganA young Canadian girl accuses her father of child molestation. She's upset to discover that most of the people in her life believe that she's lying about it, and struggles with the public backlash.
- StarsCindy PickettJohn AshtonCorin NemecThe harrowing true account of Steven Stayner, who was kidnapped by a perverted pseudo-priest and his lackey during the 1970s. As he gets older, he realizes that he needs to try to make an escape and get back home.
- DirectorDouglas BarrStarsPeri GilpinTeri PoloMaria del MarIn the 1950s, two actresses set up a charity home for "orphans"--actually, children who were purposely abandoned and shunned because of their mixed ethnicity. The children find themselves being loved and looked after properly.
- DirectorPeter LevinStarsThora BirchMichael RileyRobert BockstaelBased on a true story. Liz Murray is a young girl who is taken care of by her loving, but drug-addicted parents. Liz becomes homeless at 15 and after a tragedy comes upon her, she begins her work to finish high school.
- DirectorJim AbrahamsStarsMeryl StreepFred WardSeth AdkinsThe story of one woman's struggle against a narrow-minded medical establishment.
- DirectorJohn Kent HarrisonStarsMeredith BaxterNick MancusoKeegan MacIntoshA mentally ill woman fights to keep custody of her young son, Aaron, in the face of social stigma, courtroom drama and a spiteful ex-husband insisting that she will never be the kind of mother that Aaron needs.
- StarsFarrah FawcettRyan O'NealGordon ClappA peculiar and disturbing case catches the attention of the police when a young mother and her children, all severely injured, show up in a hospital's emergency room.
- DirectorLarry PeerceStarsMel HarrisDwight SchultzAshley PeldonA pastor and his wife adopt a brother and a sister, but the girl has terrible outbursts of rage. They get her in treatment and try to find out the reason for this.
- DirectorDavid WheatleyStarsAnn-MargretDominique SandaJay O. SandersAn American couple attempt to overcome the bureaucracy stopping them from adopting a Romanian child.
- DirectorPeter KosminskyStarsBrooke KinsellaColin SalmonBilly GeraghtyA British schoolgirl struggles to come to terms with the horrific and disgusting sexual abuse inflicted upon her by the adults in her life. When she resorts to self-harm to escape her troubles, a caring teacher tries to get her some help.
- DirectorSamantha MortonStarsMolly WindsorRobert CarlyleSusan LynchA film that gives a child's eye view of the U.K.'s government-run care system for orphans and children in danger.
- DirectorJohn KortyStarsRicky SchroderDavid AndrewsVeronica CartwrightThe touching true story of 15-year-old Terry who promised his dying mother to look after his six younger brothers and keep them together as a family--a man's job on a boy's shoulders. He had to face many misfortunes and "parenthood" had such hard and unpleasant surprises for him, he was almost tempted to disappoint his mother..
- DirectorGraeme CampbellStarsDelta BurkeRyan MerrimanVyto RuginisA divorced mother faces the bitter irony of being suspected of child abuse when in fact her own teen son is taking verbal and physical swipes at her.
- DirectorBruce PittmanStarsBonnie BedeliaBruce DavisonDan HedayaA story of a young boy who becomes an elective mute after witnessing what he believes to be the killing by his older brother of a teenage boy. The young boy's brother then tells him not to say anything because of the trouble it would cause in the family... so he doesn't say anything again. The problem is that the young boy so enjoys his acceptance by others of his mutism that it brings his family, a loving and caring farm family, to the brink of financial ruin in medical and psychological costs to cure him. Based on a true story, this is the intelligent telling of a family in crisis, and the work of doctors in dealing with this mental illness.
- DirectorMichael TuchnerStarsMarsha MasonKiefer SutherlandJohn MahoneyA pschologist tries hard to get through to kid who can talk - but won't.
- DirectorPaul AaronStarsCathy Lee CrosbyJohn GetzGary FrankA girl of six years who has suffered various abuses is treated by a special psychologist in an institution. There she begins an intense relationship with her teacher.
- DirectorDonald WryeStarsMarlo ThomasMel HarrisEileen HeckartThis is based on a true story about two sisters who sue their father for incest and child abuse. As the story unfolds, it is revealed that the father severely abused all six children, and committed incest with all four of his daughters. The two sons received the worst of the physical abuse. The mother stood haplessly by and allowed her husband to control the family through his methods of "discipline". The movie includes graphic descriptions and scenes of the abuse which are disturbing.
- DirectorMichael Ray RhodesStarsSarah Jessica ParkerSally StruthersLexi RandallFact-based story of a legal battle fought over custody of five siblings.
- DirectorPeter WernerStarsKristen BellDiane LaddShedrack Anderson IIIA teenage girl tries to raise her three half-brothers and one half-sister on her own after their drug-addicted mother is sent to jail.
- StarsBonnie BedeliaBrian KerwinJohn M. JacksonThis is the story of two babies who were switched at birth. A few years later, when one of the girls dies, tests reveal that she was not the child of the couple who raised her.
- DirectorJerry LondonStarsDelta BurkeSwoosie KurtzShirley KnightTwo feuding adult sisters from a dysfunctional family decide to finally uncover the truth about a childhood trauma, the sudden death of their third sibling, from back in the 1950's.
- DirectorAnjelica HustonStarsJennifer Jason LeighRon EldardGlenne HeadlyA mother and daughter find their lives adversely affected when a new man enters the picture. Will their family ever be what they expect?
- DirectorDon TaylorStarsJane AlexanderRachel RobertsDavid Ogden StiersA teacher at a school for emotionally disturbed children takes an interest in one particular child who doesn't talk but emits a stream of gibberish.
- DirectorJud TaylorStarsJane AlexanderRonny CoxKristine McKeonA sequel to "A Circle of Children" (1977). A teacher of "emotionally disturbed" children takes on a new student who is considered to be "untrainable" by public school authorities, psychiatrists, and medical doctors. Even the child's own mother, who is very loving, does not have the tools to reach her "hopeless" child. This is the further story of a teacher who understood what it was like to be eight years old and hurt and angry and confused; a teacher who saw these children for who they were, rather than who they seemed to be.
- DirectorKatt SheaStarsMare WinninghamAlison LohmanLawrence MonosonA teenage girl who feels she must always seem happy for her parents and friends secretly binges and purges.
- DirectorDelbert MannStarsRichard ThomasMolly CheekJulie CobbA young man wishes to adopt a problematical eight-year-old boy being kept in an institution. Simply because he is single, he has an uphill battle with the government bureaucracy and particularly with a power-hungry, administrator. After many delays, they deny his application. Then he finds a way to turn the tables on them for the boy's own good.
- StarsValerie BertinelliMichael OntkeanTimothy CarhartA true story about a woman who fights her brother-in-law's parents for custody of her deceased sister's baby upon learning that her brother-in-law murdered her sister.
- DirectorLuc DionneStarsMarianne FortierSerge PostigoHélène Bourgeois LeclercAfter her mother's sudden death, Aurore Gagnon is abused by her disturbed stepmother as her town remains in the silence followed by her death. Based on a true story.
- DirectorSandor SternStarsVeronica HamelPam DawberDaniel Hugh KellyA recently-widowed doctor moves with her daughter to start at a new hospital. A loving mother brings her son in for treatment. The doctor suspects that something is wrong and theorizes that the mother is deliberately making her son sick so she can rush him to the hospital and get attention for herself. When the doctor decides to restrict the mother's access to her son and reports her to Child Services, the mother decides to sue the doctor and the hospital. Some members of the hospital board don't agree with her diagnosis, or they think she's overreacting. Even away from his mother, the child remains sick. Is the doctor right or wrong?
- DirectorStephen TolkinStarsChristine LahtiMary Kay PlaceAndrew DucoteFact-based story about a Bible-quoting woman who in 1990 murdered a camp counselor, whom she learned molested her 7 year old son. Seeking revenge, she turns to murder when she learns the man had previously been convicted of the same crime in 1983 and got off with probation.
- DirectorLukas MoodyssonStarsOksana AkinshinaArtyom BogucharskiyPavel PonomaryovSixteen-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.
- DirectorChristophe RuggiaStarsVincent RottiersAdèle HaenelRochdy LabidiOrphaned 12-year-old twins Joseph and Chloé have been on the run together. Chloé is autistic, non-verbal and fears being touched. Joseph dearly loves her and dreams she will recover if they find their parents and fight the system.
- DirectorAgnès MerletStarsLudovic VandendaeleEric da SilvaSandrine BlanckeBrothers Martin and Simon, not yet teens, are incorrigible vandals; Martin runs away from reform school, Simon from foster homes, and they always find each other in a seacoast town of Lignan, where their destructive behavior is infamous. (It may date to their mother's leaving the family.) Martin is philosophical, romantic, and poetic: he dreams of being the son of a shark; he holds tight to a book about goldfish his mother gave him. In both halting and wild ways, he tries to court Marie, a neighbor girl. Simon, with a pocketknife and an intractable will, seems more dangerous to others. What, on earth, is there for these children-becoming-men?
- DirectorPhilippe FalardeauStarsAntoine L'ÉcuyerGabriel MailléCatherine FaucherDuring the summer of 1968, Leon, a 10-year-old boy, navigates the hardships of young love, his lunatic mother's whims, and his urges to vandalize the house of his neighbors.
- DirectorDaniel GrouStarsClaude LegaultRobert NaylorEugénie BeaudryTommy, 10 years old, is well known by Social Services. He is considered a danger to society. Gilles, his guardian at this halfway house, sees potential for redemption in this kid driven by violence.
- DirectorAisling WalshStarsAidan QuinnIain GlenMarc WarrenThe 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.
- StarsJoanne WoodwardSally FieldBrad DavisA young woman whose childhood was so harrowing to her that she developed sixteen different personalities is treated by a doctor.
- DirectorJoseph SargentStarsJessica LangeTammy BlanchardRon WhiteA true story of a young woman whose abusive childhood results in her developing a multiple personality disorder.