Academic Resources: film database
Name of film: Refrigerator Mothers
Topics: autism, mother-blaming
Brief Summary: A documentary that examines the impact on mothers and families of autistic children raised during the (lengthy) period when the disorder was thought to be caused by "emotional frigidity" of the mother.
Watch clips from the film and hear from the mothers at the Refrigerator Mothers PBS web site.
Date of Release: 2002
Length: 53 minutes
Where to get it: Fanlight Productions