It’s an Emmy-winning documentary about a girl locked in her bedroom during her early years. The “genius” raised in prison is primitive, savage, and can barely walk or talk. NOVA follows the controversial attempt to unravel the mystery of this wild child who grew up in almost painful isolation with little human contact.
The story begins in Los Angeles on November 4, 1970, when authorities took in a 13-year-old girl who was isolated by her parents and never even learned to speak. Parents accused of child abuse.
For most of her early years, Genie was locked in her bedroom and strapped to a potty chair. Totally controlled, she was forced to sit alone day and night. For more than a decade, she had little to see and no one to talk to. The girl was said to be making immature noises and wearing a diaper when social workers learned of the case, but officials believe she may still be able to learn normally.
Girls who give the impression of being babies are called “geniuses”. She was rushed to Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles, where she immediately won the love of doctors and scientists. She’s gentle, endearing, poignant…and Genie is about to test an idea of vital importance to science and society: that an environment of caring, encouragement, and love can redeem even the cruelest past.
Elves have clumsy gaits and other almost inhuman traits. She was spitting, sniffing and scratching incessantly. She barely said anything or made any noise. Investigations revealed that she was abused for making noises and learned to be largely silent as a result. And she really didn’t speak at all. Most of the time, she is silent.
