Givin' It Up
By W.R. Stanton
Produced by Susan Kraus & Robert Gill

This disturbing documentary enters the world of juvenile sex offenders whose victims are younger children. It explores the lives of three convicted teens between the ages of 15 and 17 (two male, one female), all of whom were themselves sexually abused when they were younger. Their victims were as young as four. The program offers a rare glimpse into the reality of adolescent sex offenders, as well as the experiences of professionals who are working to end the cycle of sexual exploitation. In graphic detail, participants in a treatment program discuss their evolution from sexual prey to sexual predators, from victims to victimizers.

Made in collaboration with a southeastern Pennsylvania outpatient treatment facility, the film explores the experiences, motivations, and aspirations of adolescent sex offenders and examines some strategies being used to rehabilitate them. The teens discuss their sexual experiences, the development of their offense cycle, what they have learned in treatment and their hopes for the future. Program staff and international experts comment on the importance of treatment and concerns about the effectiveness of mandatory registration programs. Juvenile justice authorities discuss the challenge of balancing community safety with rehabilitation. This is an excellent introduction to this issue, and to one cognitive-behavioral approach to the treatment of sexual offenders. A Main Point Production for Reading Specialists Educational Association.

29 minutes
© 2005
Purchase $229 DVD
Order No. QA-491
ISBN (DVD) 1-57295-963-0

Reviews
“Puts a human face on sex abuse. I’ve never seen anything like this before.” David Fair, Philadelphia Department of Human Services

“The best thing I’ve seen for teaching about this subject.” Gerard Webste, Forensic Psychologist, MacQuarie University, Australia

"Highly Recommended. Givin' It Up treats difficult subject matters with sensitivity in a surprisingly engaging manner." Educational Media Reviews Online

Awards & Conference Screenings
Director’s Citation, Black Maria Film Festival
Honorable Mention,
New York International Independent Film & Video Festival

Related Films
Talk To Me: Teens Speak Out About Sexual Violence: One in six victims of sexual assault are under the age of twelve. Talk to Me allows five brave young women to speak directly about their painful experiences of sexual abuse. The film will be a catalyst for dialogue between students, parents, teachers and counselors.

Rape By Any Name: Weaves the stories of three acquaintance rape survivors together with the views, attitudes and biases both of professionals and of high school and college students.

When Help Was There: This powerful video examines the crisis of elder abuse through four ethnically diverse cases of physical, emotional, and financial abuse.

Battered Hearts: Domestic abuse is not always physical. Focusing on abusers as well as their victims, this documentary looks at the devastating range of physical, verbal, and emotional assaults which abusers may inflict, but also profiles successful programs which offer awareness, help and healing.

Stolen Lives: Takes a hard look at the issue of children in the sex trade through the eyes of the teenaged boys and girls who are being exploited in the fast-growing business of selling children for sex in North America.

To rent or purchase this film, please visit the Icarus Films website

HOME  ||  TITLE INDEX  ||  SUBJECT AREAS  ||  RESOURCES  ||  RETURN TO TOP
CONTACT FANLIGHT  ||  FAQ