Cry Wolf (2020)

Holly, 14, has written a school essay detailing her stepfather's physical abuse and claiming that she and her younger brother have been exposed to violence in their home. The report from Holly's school lands on the desk of social worker Lars Madsen. Following his meeting with a clearly frightened Holly, Lars is convinced of the need for immediate action, and in the space of a few hours, he manages to place Holly and her brother Theo in emergency foster care. The children's parents completely deny the abuse charges and are genuinely shocked by the council's handling of the case. They respond by hiring a lawyer and bringing their own case against social services. Lars now has only a few weeks to find evidence of the stepfather's abuse before the case is brought in front of the children and youth services committee, which will decide whether the children can return home or if they should remain in foster care. However, Lars' fact-finding mission proves much harder than expected and raises key questions: can children always be trusted? How much stress can a family endure--and who is actually telling the whole truth? 'Cry Wolf' focuses on how far a family is willing to go to survive and how difficult a task it can be for a social worker to secure a loving childhood for children in a vulnerable home environment.