For Them (2005)

Lydia, age 13, living with her mother, father and older brother Oscar, tries to cope with her brothers abusive ways. His mental and sometimes physical abuse, leaves her quiet and unable to ... See full summary »

Director:

Bianca D'Carpio

Writer:

Bianca D'Carpio

Stars:

Cassie Benavidez, Walter Perez, Emily Rios

Cast

Credited cast:
Cassie Benavidez	...	Nancy
Walter Perez	...	Oscar
Emily Rios

Storyline

Lydia, age 13, living with her mother, father and older brother Oscar, tries to cope with her brothers abusive ways. His mental and sometimes physical abuse, leaves her quiet and unable to tell her parents whats going on. Scared of her brothers reaction, she keeps to herself while trying to find comfort in her writing. Too young to escape her life, she often goes to find peace at her favorite spot, a cliff overlooking the ocean. Her silence is finally broken when she sees that Oscar has turned his violent temper toward her parents. It is then that she is forced to make a decision that will change the rest of her life.

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Plot Keywords:

abusive brother

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Taglines:

A young girl looking back on her life, growing up with an abusive brother, reflects on her silence and inability to escape her destiny.

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Genres:

Short | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 September 2005 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Norwalk, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bink Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

12 min 12 min (original)

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR (35 mm prints)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

User Reviews

Tough to watch, but an excellent short film

This is a very unpleasant film that is perhaps too intense for many viewers. Parents should DEFINITELY exercise caution, but it also is a good film to watch with your teens and kids in spite of the language and brutality, as there is a lot here that would be good for discussion. Physical abuse, intimidation and drug abuse are all dealt with in this story.

The film is about a young teen who lives with her parents and older brother. Whether the drugs have made the brother violent, made it more pronounced or he was just a violent thug before he began using, it's obvious that there is a serious problem in the home. However, the parents seem to be ignoring the fact that the boy is bullying his sister and making everyone's life pretty miserable. It all comes to a head when the father learns that the boy has been stealing from them. Like a bully or drug addict, the boy responds at first with lies, then extreme violence towards the dad. Eventually, the youngest is forced to react to stop the violence one way or another.

This film is a pretty good film as it clearly illustrates how violence and drugs can destroy lives--yet it does not come off as preachy or fake. Very good film making.