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A BOY'S LIFE paints a dramatic portrait of the troubling forces that have shaped Robert as he grows up in an impoverished region of Mississippi.
Directed by Rory Kennedy (HBO's "American Hollow" and "Pandemic: Facing AIDS", the America Undercover special was a 2003 Tribeca Film Festival selection and received the Best Documentary prize at the Woodstock Film Festival.
When Rory Kennedy first visited rural Eupora, Mississippi, to explore how social services interact with children who suffer from mental illness, she discovered the compelling case of seven-year-old Robert Oliver. Over the course of two years, Kennedy followed Robert and his family, shedding light on how the day-to-day behavior of a young boy has been dangerously affected by the emotional dysfunction of the very people who love him most - his mother and grandmother.
Robanna became pregnant with Robert when she was raped at age 16, and had her mother, Anna, care for him from age two. Under the care of his grandmother, Robert exhibited symptoms of disturbing behavior. He had allegedly killed three dogs and four cats, and had tried to kill himself. Robert was subsequently diagnosed with a variety of personality and behavioral disorders and prescribed numerous medications, which Anna often administers to him by force.
After being transferred to a new school, however, changes in Robert's behavior become apparent. He begins to excel in this stable and supportive setting, blossoming into an honor roll student and Boy Scout. The dichotomy between Robert's success at school and trouble at home quickly raises red flags with Robert's teacher, Emmy Long, principal, Vicky Beckham, and therapist, Dr. Virginia Fee, as well as with the Department of Heath and Human Services.
Everything is not as it seems. The expected roles of various family members change radically before the situation is resolved and Robert transcends his painful family legacy, providing hopeful testament to the strength of just one boy. Filled with gripping twists and turns, A BOY'S LIFE is ultimately a journey to discovery and triumph.
Rory Kennedy is an award-winning filmmaker and co-founder, with Liz Garbus, of Moxie Firecracker Films. Her previous HBO credits include the 1999 America Undercover documentary "American Hollow," the story of a tight-knit Appalachian family; it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and earned numerous awards, including Best Documentary from the American Film Institute. She was also director of the five-part documentary series "Pandemic: Facing AIDS," which debuted on the network in 2003.
A BOY'S LIFE is produced and directed for Moxie Firecracker Films by Rory Kennedy; produced by Liz Garbus; co-director and director of photography, Nick Doob; editor, Charlton McMillan; original music, Joel Goodman; story editor, Mark Bailey. For HBO: supervising producer, Nancy Abraham; executive producer, Sheila Nevins.
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