REFRIGERATOR MOTHERS

Excerpt from the film REFRIGERATOR MOTHERS, a Facets Video release. Directed by David E. Simpson. For more info or to order this film, visit http://www.facetsdvd.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=DV97095 or contact sales@facets.org.


Facets Multi-Media is a non-profit media arts organization founded in Chicago in 1975, and dedicated to making cinema accessible to all through film preservation, distribution, presentation, and education. For more information, visit http://www.facets.org


From Kartemquin Films comes this "cautionary tale underscoring the harm wrought by ignorance" (Boston Herald). More specifically, it's a documentary about the mothers of children with autism, who, during the fifties and sixties, were blamed for their youngsters' atypical behavior, accused of frigid mothering by the medical establishment. A portrait emerges of these "refrigerator mothers"--ridiculed, alienated, and vilified in an instance when reason evaded science. An "Editor's Choice" by Video Librarian.

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People & Blogs

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• Documentary

[BeatleBangs1964]

@BM546

I never said they didn't exist, BM. I just said that NOBODY makes their child autistic. I've known people who had mothers less loving than even a reptile, but they weren't autistic. BM, perhaps it's time to stop trying to lay blame and try to think of compassionate approaches.

[beautifulmind546]

@BeatleBangs1964 Refrigerator mothers do exist, they just aren't the cause of autism. They do cause a whole host of supposed childhood mental illnesses these days like ADHD and any other diagnosis that children are being perscribed psychiatric meds for as young as 2 years old. People need to realize that there ARE cold abusive mothers who DO in fact cause their children psychological damage. And you I know BOTH know who THESE mothers are!

[BeatleBangs1964]

Nobody makes their kids autistic. Damn shame people were blamed and given that damn guilt trip. NOBODY, repeat, NOBODY would make their kid autistic. The "experts" didn't know jack shit in those days and autism is a NEUROBIOLOGICAL condition.