Adoption and Foster Care in the Movies
We are a movie loving family! We have a family cinema night at least once a week…usually on Saturday night. It might be a new movie just released on dvd or it might be an old favorite. We love action, comedies, family and kid movies. Disney movies and Harry Potter are a favorite. We have found ourselves commenting after a new movie how much we loved the way adoption or foster care was portrayed in the movie. We also have a common statement “Most great movies have adoption or foster care in it”. Great stories are built around hard times, difficult choices, loss and also overcoming, joy, courage and love….these things are adoption and foster care.
Here are a few of the Horrocks family favorites in no particular order.
Meet the Robinsons.
“Boy genius Lewis gives up hope of retrieving his latest invention, which was stolen by Bowler Hat Guy, then a young time-traveler named Wilbur Robinson arrives on the scene to whisk Lewis away in his time machine. The boys spend a day in the future with Wilbur’s eccentric family and uncover an amazing secret at the same time.” ~IMDb
The words at the very beginning of this movie speak to the heart.
“Everyone on this planet has a dream.
The question is how far are you willing to go to make it come true.”
When you are hoping for a family you are willing to do pretty much anything!!
I love how the family in this movie is accepting of others even when they are quirky or a little lurky. Perfect feel good movie for any family but a family created by adoption and others involved in it, will connect to it in a special way!
Juno
“Faced with an unplanned pregnancy, an offbeat young woman makes an unusual decision regarding her unborn child.” ~IMDb
Brenley’s birth mom gave this to us as a gift. It especially meant a lot to me. There is some great humor, very touching moments and hollywood of course had to make it extra dramatic but overall it is one of my personal favorite adoption movies. I could relate to the hopeful adoptive mom and the scene with Juno in the van by herself feeling the weight of the decision….Wow…powerful!!! This is rated PG-13 for good reason so it isn’t a family movie (at least a family with younger children).
Mr. Peabody and Sherman
“The time-travelling adventures of an advanced canine and his adopted son, as they endeavor to fix a time rift they created.” IMDb
Our oldest daughter, Brenley, is a huge fan of Dr. Who and the BBC Sherlock Holmes with Benedict Cumberbatch. While watching this really adorable family movie we decided this was THE perfect show for Brenley. It rolls both of her favorite tv shows into one character “Mr. Peabody”. We also love the twist of a dog adopting a boy! If you haven’t seen it go rent it today! The Best!!!
The Help
“An aspiring author during the civil rights movement of the 1960s decides to write a book detailing the African-American maids’ point of view on the white families for which they work, and the hardships they go through on a daily basis.” ~IMDb
At first glance you wouldn’t realize this story has anything to do with adoption or foster care but if you have ever been a foster mom who has to say goodbye to the child she has loved and cared for you will understand this movie speaks love!
At one point in the movie one of the characters, Aibileen, says goodbye to the child she has loved and cared for since the child was a baby. Aibileen knows she is leaving this beloved child in the care of her mother who looks down on the child due to her weight. I love Aibileen….I connected with her as a character! I bawled my eyes out. I know what it is like to have to say goodbye to a child you love so much. Saying goodbye is even more difficult when you are handing charge over to a parent who will not give the same type of care you have given. This movie is funny, touching, hard to watch but everyone should see it at least once. Filled with some great educational opportunities on many topics!
Harry Potter
“Rescued from the outrageous neglect of his aunt and uncle, a young boy with a great destiny proves his worth while attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.” ~ IMDb
I am sure you have heard of this one. While Harry’s Aunt and Uncle are horrible “foster parents” Hogwarts brings him the family he creates including the Weasleys, Hermione, Hagrid and Dumbledore. The Harry Potter series is most loved in our home. The courage Harry shows to overcome his difficult circumstances makes for a great story and an inspiration to anyone who feels alone. I also love how he is able to develop a connection to his parents as he learns about them through the series.
Superman: Man of Steel 2013
“Clark Kent, one of the last of an extinguished race disguised as an unremarkable human, is forced to reveal his identity when Earth is invaded by an army of survivors who threaten to bring the planet to the brink of destruction.” ~IMDb
Love love love this movie! I love how it portrays Superman’s birth parents and shows how loved he is and how important he is to them. Love how they portray the adoptive parents and how much they love him. This movie is very entertaining but if you look a little deeper it has great symbolisms! Fantastic family movie!!!!
Movies which included a relation to adoption and/or foster care in a positive way really make great stories!!!
Brenda Horrocks is a mother of four children through adoption.
She promotes adoption, foster care and Utah’s Safe Haven Law through blogging, public speaking and writing. She enjoys time with family, reading books, running, gardening and movies.
You can visit her blog here.