A Boy's Life

by proxy is what should have been diagnosed if the grandmother had ever been taken to a competent psychiatrist.

This documentary is effective on many disturbing levels. Initially it seems Robanna is simply unwilling to care for her children, she is young, destitute. The conditions they live in in rural Mississippi are truly sad. Her mother "Memaw", cares for the children but has a particular obsession with the seven year old, Robert.

As the story develops, we see the conditions, and also the educator at Europa Elementary, concerned and upset for Roberts situation. He is a good student at school, but according to his grandmother, kills dogs and cats, and is an unmanageable raging child at home. We see how the system cannot in some cases help children in emotional danger, only actual physical danger.

The grandmother appears narcissistic, and becomes angry with her daughters nurse (Robanna has several medical issues, obesity, thyroid, etc.). Toward the latter part of the documentary, the grandmother is badly bruised with blood clots from supposedly having been kicked by Robert.

She is taken to the ER where she blames Robert. Eventually it is evident that the story was fabricated.

Fortunately, the children are returned to the custody of their natural mother, Robanna. The grandmother is now apparently confined to an institution for her psychological issues. Sad that Roberts life was not protected earlier, but Robanna had neither financial resources or education to get her mother to a psychiatrist. A sad commentary on real issues of poverty in America today. 9/10.

"A Boy's Life", Rory Kennedy's portrait of Robert, a young boy (7) growing up in abject poverty in Northern Mississippi, was difficult to watch.

Difficult to watch only because of the treatment that Robert received at the hand of his Grandmother. Numerous instances of the child being emotionally decimated by his "mamaw" raised red flags of Munchausen by Proxy Syndrome. Regardless of the impetus of the mistreatment, the film captured an upsetting family dynamic as orchestrated by the matriarch. The film was effective in its crafting layers of complexity of the relationships between Robert, his brother (whom was not examined by the film), the grandmother, and his mother.

There are moments in which I sensed some exploitation of this family in unenviable conditions; but it wasn't so much that it took away from the gravity and texture of the film.

I recommend this documentary but keep a tissue nearby, just in case.

I watched this documentary twice. I cannot believe the Grandmother's behavior. I couldn't decide whether she was the one with the mental problems or if she was just a control freak. A little of both, I guess.

My compassion for this child brought me to tears. I cannot believe that an adult could be so emotionally abusive. Unfortunately, I was raised by the same kind of mother and I know how it feels. I have no sympathy for a grown woman who, in my opinion, beats herself about the legs and blames a 7 year old. Her daughter has obviously been just as emotionally abused and I hope gets help for herself.

Please update us on how Robert and his brother are doing. I pray that things have turned for the better.

Robert, a Mississippi 7 year old being raised by his grandmother, is victimized by his grandmother's Munchhausen by Proxy disorder- she attributes all manner of disturbed behavior to him and has him falsely medicated for psychiatric disorders that he doesn't have. His 20 year old mother struggles to regain custody of Robert and his younger sibling, Benjamin, both of whom were conceived when she was underage.

A chilling portrait of emotional and psychological child abuse. Rory Kennedy's film is terrific.

I was beyond disturbed and upset by this documentary. You would have to be blind, deaf and dumb to not see the surroundings of Robert including his insane grandmother and bitter lazy fat mother were destroying that child's future to be a normal boy.

As we could see from how he behaved at school, and getting A's for his report card he is an intelligent child stuck in some hick moron's home. I felt so beyond sorry for this child and his poor little ignored brother it actually made me sick.

In a perfect world I would not let the grandmother and her daughter look after a rabbit let alone raise two children. They are the scum of the earth. Yes that is harsh, but it's a great argument for legal and safe abortion when 'these' types of people get pregnant. It's a vicious cycle that will never end until people start saying what everyone is afraid of hearing! But Robert exists and I am saddened he is still with those horrible horrible people. The best thing for that child and his brother is be taken away immediately.

Bless the school and teachers for being so wonderful, and also Dr Phee for doing her best.