[radiodoll]

Wow. I inadvertently rented Antoine Fisher the other night knowing nothing about the film in advance.

Hmmm. I have really been jammed up since then. I was calming down my roller coaster feelings about lost contact prior to this - have gone through some normal anger - but now I am feeling heart sick again.

Anyone seen this film?

Radiodoll

[echaos]

No, what is it about?

[debsdone]

Odd, we rented the movie a couple weeks ago, but never watched it! What is it about? Love, Debi

[crayola]

We loved this film. Based on a true story, it is about a young man's journey to acceptance and self-love after being raised in a brutal foster care home. At the end he decides how important it is to seek out his origins. I found the film very uplifting, and my mother saw both the film and read the book (Finding Fish, written by Antoine Fisher himself) and loved them both. I can see that it might be upsetting to someone who has had similar experiences, but the message of the film to me is so powerful about the importance of not brushing away the past as that will not resolve anything. All in all, it is very powerful about strength of the human character in the face of much hurtfulness and triumph over it. I certainly recommend it.

[radiodoll]

Yeah, I agree it's a great film. Of course, I would see ANYTHING with Denzel...but...

I guess what got me the most was the fact that nobody in his fathers family knew he exsisted and he got such a rousing welcome. I had never considered that before. (dumb, huh?)

My birth mother refuses contact and my birthfather is dead - he was married at the time of my birth and has 2 boys older than me. They don't know anything about me. At least I think that is true. He was the one that got my mother to the maternity home so no one would know. It's still the big secret on both sides.

I wonder sometimes what goes through my mothers mind when she sees stuff on TV about adoption and reunion and infidfelity and stuff like that. I wonder if she is just having a permenant out of body experience or if she has a feeling or two.

It was weird to think abotu my father's family. I ahave been so quick to denouce them becasue I felt he was such a leach. I wonder.

Radiodoll

[MANoICE]

I think I saw This movie about a week before I sent my contact letters to both bparents. I had wanted to see this movie since I had heard about it being in production. It was an outstanding debut for an up and coming actor ( I am terrible with names) and a great co-starring/directorial debut for Danzel. It didn't get my hopes up or give me my final push to make contact, but it definitly was a factor. After we watched it, my wife turned the pressure up on me to finally send the letters I had been writing and re-writing for a few weeks. I think it is a must see for all adoptees, but must be taken with a grain of salt. Not everyone will end up with a happy ending. There was a bitter side and a sweet side. Hopefully everyone will get more of the sweetness.

[solonely1974]

i need to see this movie.

[HappyMomAnna]

Rent Cider House Rules -- it is one that will live in you for a long time! To my Friend who is on the ride....I will keep you in my prayers...this is hard and follow your heart... no one has the "right" answers for you---the only answers will be the right ones for yourself...

[Chris012473]

Man...now I am going to have to rent this movie...I love finding movies that motivate me and it sounds like this one will. Now that I have begun my adoption search and am learning about how my adoption has effected my life, I have found out why some movies effect me so much.

My theripist told me to watch "The Little Princess"...there are two versions...I watched the one made in 1995...it was awesome...I cried and cried during certain parts becaue it touched something so deep within me.

I am going to have to check into Antoine Fischer and Cider House Rules.

[shirleyville]

We watched that movie last week, and I have to tell you that it twisted the water-works knob for me!!! LOL I was in tears most of the last half without let up! Now, you have to keep in mind that I also cry during Little House on the Prairie episodes.....but this one really touched deep!
I think it is a real tribute to a film or book when it can touch everyone in a different way, as this seems to have done for each of us.
For me, the defining moment -- the moment the true gut-felt tears started to roll was when Antoine was with Denzel and Denzel was telling him that their "sessions were over" (Denzel was councelling Antoine for some anger control issues, and in the midst of the sessions, Antoine had become rather "attached" to Denzel to the point he considered him somewhat of a "family member" -- someone he relied on, trusted and felt closer to than anyone else in his life). Denzel was explaining to Antoine that their sessions were over and that they wouldn't be meeting regularly any longer ( more of a "tough love" move on Denzel's part in order to press Antoine to seek the true root of his anger), and Antoine broke down. He was devastated because he had come to rely so much on the comfort zone he had built with Denzel, and he said -- thru tears -- "why does everyone I love leave me?"
That did it for me!!! I was inconsolable for the rest of the movie!
The last kicker was when he went to his birthmother's apartment -- for those of you who have seen it, you know what I mean. For those of you who haven't, you will understand once you do!
It really is a well done must see movie!
Hugs,
Sally

[dkb60]

What I liked best about this movie was that there was someone to come along side this young man and not give up on him. How rare is that. And surprisingly, working though things had an impact on both people. Even though it was hard to watch I found it uplifting in the end.
D

[radiodoll]

definately.

But I think about how lucky WE are on this site to be able to get ON the internet in the first place and to be driven enough to find fellowship and support.

Radiodoll

Does anyone have any other movies besides Cider House & Antoine Fisher that they would recommend regarding forstering and/or adoption?

Movies, please - not TV.

I am interested in compiling a list. Those movies where the protagonist finds some sort of positive resolution are prefered. Please rate (GP, P, R) the movies for me if you can. I will try and offer this back as a separate post later. Thanks!!!

[dadfor2]

hi radiodoll

sorry that movie caused you so much turmoil (i havnt seen it, but i will)

I know when i watch some of these disney movies with the kids, alot of the story line is losing a parent,or some kind of loss.

I mean, saving nemo was about a father who went on a long search looking for his son. I sit at these movies and wonder what it going through my little ones mind, i wonder if there thinking how come my bdad or bmom havnt looked for me. alot of these kid movies is about kids losing their parents and then finding them again, so i wonder what my kids think.

Im not sure if anyone else have noticed that. I mean even in bambi, the mother dies, what does that do to kids without a mother. It makes me wonder all the time. there are just so many movies out there that must trigger so much pain for adults and kids that have had losses in their lifes.

Again, just want to say, you have been a great support for others so im hoping you get the support that you need.

Im sure you have some great friends (i can tell) that can listen to you and get you through this. Keep your sence of humor, thats one of your greatest assests.

dadfor2

[HappyMomAnna]

I noticed Disney and agree with you..... I also wonder how the children feel..... My cousin was adopted and we were a big Disney family she is now grown and said, that as a child she did have thoughts about why her birthfamily was not looking high and low to find her.... Now I try and preview the Disney stuff for adoption issues and either choose not to watch it or try to use it as a talking point with our dughter.
Another kid movie that is all adoption is "ANNE" and our daughter watched it (she is 5) she spent weeks calling her new daddy, "daddy worbucks" and felt very happy for Anne getting a great new daddy....... But, she found Lilo and Stich to be upsetting because it was a little monster who was adopted!
The older Superman movies talk about adoption and have a good message as to why his birthfamily sent him to a safe place to grow up.....

[radiodoll]

I never thought about Disney!!! Why do they always DO that????wow. hmmm. And SUPERMAN!!!! That's SOOOOO interesting. I hadn't thought about that. That seems to follow along the adoption theme, "you're special."

I never fly off the roof, though.

I DID jump off the balconey once. Do you think it was an aversion to the krytonite in the den????

love back at 'cha Dadfor2

Keep 'em coming!!!

Radiodoll