Breaking the Cycle of Childhood Trauma in the Film "Psiconautas, los niños olvidados"
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Authors
Fischer, Amaya
Date of Issue
2025-04-25
Type
Presentation
Language
en_US
Subject Keywords
Other Titles
Abstract
Psiconautas, los niños olvidados (Birdboy: The Forgotten Children) is an animated coming-of-age film directed by Alberto Vázquez and Pedro Rivero. It follows a group of children who live in a dystopian society as they embark on a dangerous journey to escape from their postapocalyptic island. Throughout their adventure, they interact with their bleak, crumbling world full of trash and disrepair. The environment serves as a reflection of their own emotional and psychological decay caused by the abandonment, emotional trauma, and neglect they face from those surrounding them. Their journey is symbolic of the forced loss of childhood innocence and the harsh reality of growing up without guidance and support. La gaceta mexicana de oncología (The Mexican Gazette of Oncology) elaborates on this topic as Angélica Ariadna García García et al. state: “Family, particularly mothers, and peers play an important role in providing emotional and social support.” Therefore, how detrimental is this lack of support, and how can adolescents and young adults, such as the children in Psiconautas, work through childhood trauma to break the cycle and prevent the development of negative mental health conditions in those with whom they interact? In this presentation, I argue that the lack of emotional and societal support leads to the psychological disintegration of individuals, highlighting the long-lasting effects of childhood trauma. Through the journeys of the prominent characters in the film, Dinky and Birdboy, Psiconautas emphasizes that trauma upholds a cycle of mental health struggles. However, by confronting their pasts, finding unity and support with others, and embracing self-empowerment, adolescents and young adults can break the cycle of trauma, build healthier relationships, and prevent the transmission of emotional wounds to others.