Monday, January 17, 2011
PC OR NOT PC
Today's film was a documentary
This is about a black girl adopted by a lesbian, observant jewish couple with two other racially mixed siblings.
It is hard to judge this film directly as it is told by the girl, a runner, and is written by her and the film maker. I don't know how much is re-enacted and "made up" or is actual filming.
In one way it doesn't matter as it is a story. One might view it as a fiction piece without missing much.
The thing about it is, that this girl is seen making some decisions and alienating herself from her adopted mothers in ways that seem wildly self indulgent. Is this intentional for the "story" effect? Or is this a real story with a real examination of the impact of, what we learn to call, transracial adoptions to say nothing of the gay factor although it would seem that any white couple would serve as foils for the girl's dilemma and angst about being black on the outside and white in.
That said, it is nice to see someone point out that there may be some problems with transracial adoption that need to be examined. We have several acquaintances that have or are going through this. Lesbians, mixed race kids and so on.
I think that there are a lot of re-enactments here so we do not see the actual pain that all parties are having over this girl's search for identity. It is certainly not something anyone signed up for but could they have not foreseen this?
I don't know.
My experience watching the friends has led me to believe that it might have been better to stay with the race you are. But then that would not begin to make a dent in the number of mixed race kids that need to be adopted.
No matter how "real " this "story" is, it does ask some probing questions about what is frequently assumed to be a good act. Adoption.
It made me think. I liked the people a lot. I could see where this was going before it got there though. Didn't they?
Spoiler.
At least we are not allowed in to a reunion at the end. These people get to have their own private moment to yell, scream, rant and rave if need be to get back on track without the PC need-to-be-nice overlay of much of the film.
I will give it a 3 out of Netflix5.
Labels: films
