In a society where the gavel falls on deaf ears, the silenced struggles of victims echo the neglect they face. Shockingly, 1 in 7 children have experienced child abuse and/or neglect in the past year. This forms the premise of Neglected, a feature film produced by Fuica Films Production and set to be released in 2025.
Neglected (2025) is a powerful courtroom drama that delves into the consequences of parental neglect and societal indifference. The story is centered around Joey, a young boy caught in a web of neglect and violence, and how his life is shaped by these experiences. His already troubled existence takes a darker turn when a fateful event unfolds in a bar. The film begins in a courtroom with the focus on Joey, a silent and innocent child, and the tension is palpable. As the story unfolds, we are taken through a series of flashbacks that delve into the lives of Joey's abusive parents, Frank and Ruby (Mélanie Elliott & Gabriel Coles), as well as the bartender Milli (Alice Clement), ex-pro boxer Billy (Deano Clavet), and a street gang consisting of Choco, Mike, and Alex (Nicolas Paquin, Cédrick Gosselin & Justin Spyce). The interactions between these characters lead to a climactic event that ultimately alters the course of their lives forever.
The film was directed by Leonardo Fuica (Camping Trip (2021), La Run (2011) and features the talented Daniel Sauvé (X-Men Apocalypse, Total Recall, Arrival) as director of photography.
