A Dangerous Son

A Dangerous Son is a heart-wrenching and thought-provoking documentary film from HBO that was aired in 2018. Directed by Liz Garbus, who is renowned for her deep and insightful narrative style, the film stars Tony Beliz, Creigh Deeds, and Thomas Insel.

A Dangerous Son tackles the complex, sensitive, and often taboo subject of mental health disorders in children, focusing on three exceptional cases. It gets its name from the harsh reality that these children are deemed dangerous not just to society, but to themselves as well. The documentary reflects the struggles that families experience in trying to navigate the healthcare system and find proper care and treatment.

Tony Beliz, an experienced Mental Health Clinician plays an influential role as he provides his expert insights into the difficult path these families must tread. Addition to Beliz, political figure Creigh Deeds and psychiatric expert Thomas Insel provide their extensive knowledge and personal experiences. The combination of a clinician, psychiatrist, and a politician makes for a balanced and comprehensive exploration of mental health issues from multiple angles.

In the spotlight are three boys, each suffering from different mental health disorders. The Documentary provides the view into their families lives, grappling with fear and anxiety as they try to help their child. Their hope for the future, often dashed by the realities of such a daunting and unpredictable future due to their children's violent outbursts and emotional crises. Simultaneously, we see these boys' pain, and their struggle to understand and control their emotions.

Garbus's raw and honest narrative style brilliantly conveys the immense challenges of raising a child with severe mental health issues. A Dangerous Son does not shy away from the grittier aspects, and paints an unfiltered image of the situation, showing viewers the effects that lack of adequate resources and timely intervention can have on the families, not just the child. It vividly portrays the trials of these families as they constantly fear for their child’s life, and the pressure they bear knowing they are the child’s only lifeline to a sense of normalcy.

The film does not merely sensationalize a grave issue but seeks to stimulate conversation around the need for comprehensive mental health policies, especially relating to youth. A Dangerous Son underscores the urgent need to improve access to mental health services and overcome systemic hurdles, offering advocacy not just medical intervention.

One distinct facet of the film is its depiction of the link between mental health and violence, highlighting that the two are not always synonymous. It strikes a fine balance,

dispelling widespread misconceptions about individuals with mental health disorders being inherently violent, while also acknowledging the potential for aggression as a direct symptom or consequence of certain disorders.

A Dangerous Son is a skillfully presented and refined documentary, avoiding clear-cut solutions or verdicts, but instead providing an intimate portrayal of three families dealing with their harsh realities and moving forward in face of considerable adversity. Most importantly, it revolves around sparking a comprehensive public dialogue around mental health issues in children.

In conclusion, A Dangerous Son isn’t an easy watch due to its immensely serious and heart-rending subject matter. However, it's an important documentary that informs and educates viewers about the challenges faced by children with mental health disorders and their families. With an empathetic approach, it endeavors to stimulate viewers to think more deeply about this issue, sparking dialogue that could lead to potential changes in our societal relationship with mental health.