By Natalie Kerr

Edited by Rory

 

Movies in today’s world are how our society leans on for entertainment and where we go for the easiest way to intake knowledge. Such as, I am sure you all know some information about animals but when you turn on the National Geographic channel or the Netflix movie Black Fish. Often, that is when you learn the most about them in a very accessible way. Movies also provide storytelling and spark emotion in worlds that we viewers know nothing about, allowing us to enter these voids while feeling special. Without movies, I am sure the stereotypes, first-person point of view, and ideas of the Foster Care system would not be embedded in our brains the way they are since most of us were children. Different movies provide a completely different point of view and allow important issues to be told fictional and nonfictional to all different types of people.

 

Annie 

The classic movie Annie tells the story of a spunky orphan being mistreated by the house mom in the foster village. As Annie stays in denial that her parents are coming back while she consistently undergoes cruel treatment, a rich man selects Annie to live at his home in the village to promote his image. While Annie tries to get accustomed to her new mansion, she attempts and yearns for her biological parents while her new family offers an award. This movie is also a musical and depicts a bright girl in a poor system, who stays optimistic. The inspiring message that the movie Annie offers to audiences is guided towards hope and optimism in the face of the darkest of times. The movie focuses on the dark horrors of the foster care system and the only way to survive is to stay optimistic or to frankly- get out.

Lion

A different side of Foster Care is symbolized in an unimaginable true story brought to life. The movie Lion is an emotional yet human drama about a young Indian boy who finds himself thousands of miles from home. Separated from his family for more than 25 years, the boy eventually attempts to find his way back home to his birth mother. Lion promotes a healthy but optimistic view on search and reunion in adoption. The main Protagonist’s adoptive family consistently supports his decision to find his birth parents while emotionally being his cheerleader. This movie shows the beauty and bright side of having a good foster family that not only turned into a permanent adoptive family but a great and dependable one.

Blind Side

The movie The Blind side offers an unforgettable but unfortunate side to the story involving the Foster Care system. The true story is based on how Michael Ohar, the now-famous ex-football player is passed around schools, couches, and unsteady meals until he meets one family who notices how far behind he is. Although the true story and the movie have a happy ending, the audience is able to see how Michael has never owned a bed, his own clothes, a license, a mediocre education, and a family. Michael is projected to have not only a low IQ due to a lack of stability but emotional issues due to being passed around and having not seen his parents or 8 siblings in years. The movie tells the sad story of how one child can be overlooked in the system, and how others like him, who didn’t get rescued by a family, ended up doing drugs or being killed.

 

At Austin Foster Fellowship, not only do we like a good story and a good happy ending, but we also like seeing a positive Foster Care experience. As much of a fairy tale as it would be, it is our preference for no child to enter the system, let alone the system existing, to begin with. Although it does exist, we want to help provide every child with a good, happy story to tell. 

 

https://consideringadoption.com/foster-care/support-resources/movies-about-foster-care-and-adoption/

https://www.imdb.com/list/ls002818521/