MOVIES WITH ADOPTION THEMES

ADOPTION MOVIES

Domestic Adoption

The Other Mother (NBC movie 1995) (from the book of the same name written by Carol Schaefer in 1991). Available on You Tube. A true story, of Carol’s 1965 teenage experience with an unplanned pregnancy, a Catholic “unwed mothers” home, the subsequent adoption of her son through a closed adoption––culminating in a search and reunion in 1985. Realistic and well done. Reminds me of my own path to sanity following my search and reunion experiences.

International Adoption 

Lion (2016 Biographical film, based on the non-fiction memoir A Long Way Home, by Saroo Brierly Available on Netflix). 

A touching story about a five-year-old Indian boy who falls asleep on a train that travels far from his rural village, becomes lost in a big city, speaking a regional dialect that cannot be identified, and is placed for adoption with an Australian couple. At age 25, he decides to search for his mother’s village with no memory of the village’s location or name. An Academy Award and Golden Globe award winning film.

One Child (TV Drama Series on Netflix, YouTube and Prime)

This is definitely worth watching. The core emotional issues of adoption are evident in the dramatic events of this series, and it is a rare view into international adoption. A large portion of the film is done in China.  With interesting and realistic scenes of family, organized crime and court culture. The story: First-born Mei was adopted from China by educated white Americans, who are portrayed as unusually supportive yet very anxious over their grown daughter’s decision to respond to a call for help from China. Mei’s brother had been arrested for murder, and her birth/first mother is convinced Mei could help him by coming to China for legal proceedings. Mei’s parents are worried for good reason, because she is taking serious risks to face the organized crime syndicate that framed her brother.