Watch Hold Me Tight, Let Me Go
- PG
- 2007
- 1 hr 40 min
-
7.1 (145)
Hold Me Tight, Let Me Go is a powerful and emotional documentary that follows the lives of several children who live and learn at the Mulberry Bush School in Oxfordshire, England. The school is a residential facility for children with severe behavioral and emotional problems, and the film takes us inside the lives of these troubled children and the dedicated staff who work tirelessly to help them.
At the center of the film is the story of 4-year-old John, a severely disturbed child who has been expelled from every other school he has attended. John's parents are at their wit's end, and they turn to the Mulberry Bush School as a last resort. The film follows John's progress as he struggles to make connections with others and comes to understand his own behavior.
The film also focuses on other children at the school, many of whom have suffered severe abuse and neglect in their young lives. Through therapy sessions, art classes, and group activities, the children learn to express their feelings and confront their emotional issues.
The staff at the Mulberry Bush School are shown to be dedicated and caring individuals who work long hours in emotionally demanding jobs. They are all trained in a method called "attachment theory," which emphasizes the importance of building strong relationships with the children in order to help them overcome their emotional problems. The film shows the difficult balancing act that the staff must perform, as they try to provide the children with both structure and support.
Hold Me Tight, Let Me Go is a deeply affecting film that offers a poignant and often heartbreaking look into the lives of troubled children. Through the experiences of John and the other children at the Mulberry Bush School, the film manages to convey the complex and often overwhelming challenges faced by those who work with troubled youth. However, the film also offers hope, as we see the children making progress and forming connections with others for the first time in their lives.
The film is shot in a cinéma vérité style, with no narration or talking head interviews. This allows the viewer to become fully immersed in the lives of the children and the staff, and to witness the daily struggles and triumphs of the school community. The film is also notable for its remarkable editing, which artfully weaves together the different stories and characters, creating a powerful tapestry of emotions and experiences.
Hold Me Tight, Let Me Go is a unique and important film that sheds light on a subject that is rarely explored in such detail. It is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, and a powerful reminder of the crucial role that caring and committed professionals can play in the lives of troubled children.