The actress who played young Sybil: not too emotional
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Jupiter555555 — 10 years ago(November 07, 2015 12:24 PM)
I agree with Rascal 67.
To be honest with you, InherentlyYoursIt's weird that a) you are critiquing a 6 year old and b) you want to see a real child react authentically as if those horrible things were happening to her. I'd rather just get the gist of it and not have to see a child realistically portray being torture. -
InherentlyYours — 10 years ago(November 07, 2015 05:25 PM)
'To be honest with you, InherentlyYoursIt's weird that a) you are critiquing a 6 year old and b) you want to see a real child react authentically as if those horrible things were happening to her. I'd rather just get the gist of it and not have to see a child realistically portray being torture'
thanks for being honest.
The difference is that while I agree with rascal that tv audiences would be too disturbed, it's about separating fiction from reality, the fact it's based on a true story not withstanding. It's not really happening (same as victims in a slasher film . I don't want to even watch an animal being tortured in a documentary.
I don't think it's 'weird' to assess the performance of a 6 yr old actress, no more than we did Shirley Temple or Buffy & Jody. We are judging a child actor based on their acting,naturally. The actress didn't have to scream in agony, but not look like she was on No-Doze either. (but you already agree, and are singling out it out because it's Sybil's subject matter, you little fibber.) -
Jupiter555555 — 10 years ago(November 07, 2015 08:35 PM)
I found her acting to be adequate for a child. My standards are fairly low. I grew up watching Full House (with the Olsen twins) and Dick Van Dyke. Richie wouldn't even keep a straight face during scenes. Also, they had to cast a child actress who looked like Sally Fields. Which she did. My point is she was fine.
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fiatlux-1 — 11 years ago(March 15, 2015 06:46 PM)
I actually thought the opposite: That she acted quite well given her very young age & like others mentioned, surely no knowledge of the scene's material.
The way she acted when tied to the piano was chillingly realistic.
And she looked scared of Hattie realistically too.
I'd say this cloud is Cumulo Nimbus.
Didn't he discover America?
Penfold, shush. -
janet-conant — 10 years ago(February 23, 2016 04:14 PM)
That little actress seemed to be acting realistically. Remember she was constantly being tortured and every morning had to endure that enema torture. She didn't cry out because it was happening again. Maybe little Sybil went to a happy place during the horrors. I'm glad they didn't show all the details. We got the picture. I hated when it looked like Hattie really tripped her.
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lm362 — 9 years ago(August 18, 2016 06:07 PM)
Many abused children still love the abusive parent even while or after terrible things have been done to them. So this child was acting as a real child might who still loves her abusive mother. Remember, in the movie one of the alternate personalities said how good her mother was. I think this was Sybil's way of detaching herself from what her mother had done to her. She loved her and did not want to face all the horrible things she did, so she created an new image of her mother.
"Do All Things For God's Glory"-1 Corinthians 10:31
I try doing this with my posts -
InherentlyYours — 9 years ago(August 18, 2016 06:11 PM)
I don't for certain if the actress intellectualized that, or if the director told her to just be herself. Other posters have commented on the fact also, saying that it would had been too potent for viewers if the actress was shown in too much distress. We'll never know exactly the reasons, but it's ok.
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Chara_Angel — 9 years ago(January 18, 2017 11:16 PM)
I actually thought her acting was good, appropriate and believable. A lot of children who have been abused do not cry. They learn early on that it does them no good, and possibly warrants them even more trouble.
I think it's fair to expect this was the case with Sybil, since later on in the movie she says that she does not cry like other people.
For little Sybil, this behavior and abuse by her mother is just another day in the life. I think that it's also possible that given her later illness, she may have started to dissociate around this time- meaning she wouldn't have been as physically present to feel all the pain inflicted on her, which would have been considerable.
Little girls shouldn't look for four leaf clovers!