"Antwone Fisher" is a film released in the early 2000s that chronicles the life of Antwone Fisher. Based on a true story, the film opens with Navy Seaman Antwone Fisher meeting Dr. Davenport (Denzel Washington) for a mandatory psych evaluation following another incident of fighting with his shipmates. Initially reluctant to disclose much information, Fisher eventually warms up to Dr. Davenport and begins to detail the abuse he received as a child and the trauma he witnessed. Given up at birth and never contacted by his birth mother, Fisher lived with the abusive Tate family until early adulthood. He experienced severe verbal, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, all contributing to him running away to join the Navy.
Dr. Davenport serves a protective factor for Fisher, helping him understand that the abuse and neglect he experienced as a youth was not his fault. As is the case with many children who were on the receiving end of abuse and/or neglect, Fisher believed that perhaps there was something inherently wrong with him that caused his birth mother and adopted mother to show him little to no love. Where I believe this film can be helpful is in educating childhood victims about the realities of abuse and neglect. The psychoeducation is invaluable, but what really strikes me is the resilience exhibited by Fisher. While he exhibits some of the aggressive behaviors and irritable mood states that often trouble victims of abuse and/or neglect, he finds a way to positively cope with issues of abandonment, loneliness, and low self-esteem. It's a great film for anybody working with children who have experienced abuse and/or neglect and seem confused about why it happened to them and why they are experiencing the negative symptoms associated with this childhood trauma. I have attached a link to a 10 min. synopsis of the film for those who don't have time/opportunity to show the movie in its entirety.
Antwone Fisher Synopsis
Mike,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this resource. I recently watched this movie. Nearly all of the children that I am currently assisting come from a background of trauma and abuse. They all have one thing in common: confusion. They often wonder 'why me?' or 'what did I do to deserve this?'. My goal as a therapist is to explain to these children that the abuse/neglect/trauma is not their fault and that they cannot change the fact that it happened. I believe that this movie sends out a positive message: Life goes on even after it feels that it may have been taken away.