Product Details

• Format: Color, DVD, DTS Surround Sound, NTSC, Closed-captioned
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: PBS
• DVD Release Date: January 17, 2006
• Run Time: 120 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000CPHAB0
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #25,459 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Studio: Pbs Release Date: 05/06/2009 Run time: 120 minutes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-see for anyone parenting boys!, January 23, 2006

By 

K. Corn "reviewer" (midwest, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Raising Cain: Exploring the Inner Lives of America's Boys PBS Home Video (DVD)

Even if you've read the book, don't miss the chance to see this, recently featured on public television stations across the country. It is a real eyeopener and demonstrates HOW and WHY boys are being shortchanged by both our educational system (a primary focus of the documentary)as well as by society and by stereotypes.

I watched this one with my husband and two sons and they were soon talking excitedly about how "true" the documentary was, how they got it "right" and how they'd captured the very real challenges and heartbreaking experiences of trying to fit into an eductional system which isn't geared to the unique traits and abilities of boys.

Agree or not, this one will get you thinking and raises some interesting points such as:

1. Girls tend to read earlier than boys and are more verbal than boys.

2. Smart boys tend to blossom in all male schools but are generally squelched in schools where both genders are in the same classrooms.

3. Intelligent boys may "pretend" to be stupid in order to appear cool or to avoid teasing from other kids.

4. EVERY boy needs to master some skill. Athletic ability seems to be the first choice but if a male isn't athletically skilled, music or other abilities can help fill the gap.

But this movie goes far beyond the few points I've brought up. A major feature is the close-up view of several individuals, each of them offering a different perspective on being male in our society. I also like the fact that the film focuses on both elementary school boys and high school students, devoting about 1/2 the documentary to each age.

Absolutely a MUST for parents, teachers and anyone interested in raising happy, productive young males.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars right on!, February 11, 2006

By 

D. Propst "redfrecklemom" (suburban Chicago) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Raising Cain: Exploring the Inner Lives of America's Boys PBS Home Video (DVD)

I agree with the other reviewers that this was an excellent program for parents of boys to watch. While I may not have agreed with all the solutions to "boy problems" that were discussed, I learned a lot and the problems discussed gave me many things to think about and ponder in dealing with my own sons. I have 4 sons -- ages 14, 7, 4, and 1 -- and could see them in each of the boys profiled in this film. "Boys will be boys" is a statement that does not need to be derogatory -- it is simply the truth. And, whether it is nature or nurture that makes boys the way they are -- the fact is that they are different than girls and that we, as parents and educators, must now deal with them in an effective manner. I am going to purchase copies of Dr. Thompson's book for the teachers at my sons' school to pass around and glean from it what they will. I may suggest that the principal encourage the faculty, especially the Jr. High teachers, to take an evening to watch this DVD. I had tears in my eyes several times, as I thought, "So that is the deal with them." If you are a parent to sons, you will feel this DVD ringing true to your life and it will make you feel better about the things you are struggling with. It brings to the front all those little struggles that we think we are the only ones dealing with. This will help you realize that most parents of boys are struggling with the same things and will offer, if not a few solutions, at least some affirmation that you are not alone and some insight into what is going on in those little guys heads and souls!

Highly recommended!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best documentaries I've seen, June 7, 2007

By 

Quilmiense (USA/Spain) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Raising Cain: Exploring the Inner Lives of America's Boys PBS Home Video (DVD)

This is about how bad we raise our kids in the West. If you wonder what's going wrong today with our kids: they've become so violent, so hyper, so emotionally immature while sexually precocious, you shouldn't look very far. Look at their environment. See who's around in the streets and in their homes. Bad influences in the street? Yes. No father figure at home? For sure. Rich parents who spoil their kids by "buying" their love? Plenty. Busy parents who trust money will do the job of raising? Mostly. Now how on earth can these kids ever develop their brains, grow mentally, aquire a culture, if we are still bustling with environmental (out-of-school) problems?

All the violence and sex that floods our society has to reflect on our kids behavior. It's normal that the violence they see, and suffer, out there impacts them so much that they mainly try to survive in the jungle of peer pressure and street gangs. It's just too much.

This documentary is concise, right on target. It gives no concessions to political correctness and is straight common sense. A breeze of fresh air amid all the babble from administrators and pedagogues. Straight talk. Higly recommended. Besides, it's very entertaining, high quality image, and engrossing from the go.

It'll do you good. Watch it.