Saw a wonderful documentary yesterday: Somewhere Between. I’d been hearing the buzz about it in our adoption community for a while now and was hoping to make it.
Jenna, Haley, Ann, and Fang (Jenni) now live in different parts of the country and were raised in very different households. I so appreciated being able to follow these poised, honest, well-spoken girls on their different journeys of self discovery and explorations of family, adoption, culture, and background.
Bottom line: I loved the film and I’m sure will be processing the information in it for quite a while. I also think it will be incredibly valuable for our daughters to see when they get older.
It wasn’t an easy, “light” film to watch (went through a few Kleenex, as expected), but it was honest, emotional, and oh-so-powerful. As an adoptive mom, I was riveted by the views of the Chinese birthparents and the unvarnished translations of their answers to pointed questions.
Bravo to director Linda Goldstein Knowlton who stayed true to the girls’ stories, and also to the four young women who share their lives with us.
Somewhere Between is playing in San Francisco and Berkeley this week and has screenings around the country (check the web site for details). For this particular screening, Director Linda and one of the girls Fang answered questions after the film (the Q&A was so great) and then I got to speak briefly with them afterwards and thank them for their work.
If you’re an adoptive parent, don't miss it. Seriously.
* If it’s not coming to your area, it will be on DVD in early 2013 (I’ll put a note on this blog when it’s available) or there’s information on the website about how you can lobby for your area. Thank you to Ginny for these pictures.
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Awesome! Thanks. I hadn't even heard about it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review. I look forward to seeing it and the Kleenex will be close by.
ReplyDeleteEmailed them; I would love to see the movie, but I live in the Netherlands. Hope they'll show it here too.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing!
Yeah, I've been hearing about this film! I defiitely plan to see it when it comes to Boston next month (even though my little one is not from China :)
ReplyDeletei LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING IT.
ReplyDeleteERIKA
I can't wait to see it!! Will be watching for the DVD. So cool that you go to go and meet the director. Awesome.
ReplyDeleteWe saw it in Toronto and can't wait for the DVD. Amazing movie
ReplyDeleteI saw this in Boulder last year. Incredibly moving. I left the movie determined to find a way to teach Mae the Chinese language - Fang was so lucky to have a mother who spoke to her in Mandarin!
ReplyDeleteHope it is released internationally, or I'll have to see if I can order it from the US at some stage
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! Sadly it looks like it was in Toronto a year and a half ago. I'll begin looking for the DVD and see if it's available to purchase.
ReplyDeleteI saw this movie in NYC in August and it is a must see. I saw it with another adoptive Mom and I am happy that I had someone to process it with. We were also lucky enough to have Linda Goldstein Knowlton and 3 of the 4 teens featured for a Q&A, priceless! I am taking my husband to see it in Boston in October. What an amazing and moving film. Thanks for sharing on your blog, maybe they can get to more cities with enough publicity.
ReplyDeleteIt's coming to our area next month and I have been stalking the theater's website for advance purchase tickets...cannot wait to see it!!
ReplyDeleteDid you see that they quoted your review on the Somewhere Between FB page. And they linked to your blog! Just thought I would share in case you hadn't seen it yet.
ReplyDeleteIt's playing in my neck of the woods in October! I'm looking forward to seeing it!
-Jen-
Fun, I hadn't seen that, thanks for letting me know! You won't be disappointed in Oct.
DeleteHave seen it twice, each time I learn something new, not only about the girls but about myself and what I will share with my daughter!
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting about this. I am not sure it will be in my area, but I have requested a copy of the DVD when it becomes available. I watched the trailer on the website and started crying. I imagine it will be very difficult to watch, but enlightening at the same time. Thanks! Kellie
ReplyDeleteThis film is enlightening, thought-provoking, emotion wrenching, sensitive and honest. For me, it was life-changing as I witnessed the realities of these four brave, intelligent young women's lives. They are not unique in that they share thoughts and feelings that every child adopted internationally must experience to some extent in their own ways, yet these girls open their lives to us to watch and through their honesty, we can even feel as though we truly find some understanding on a deeper level than we have to this point. As an adoptive parent, I am so grateful for this film - for my own greater understanding now and for my daughter's sake when she is older. We saw the film almost a year ago and we long for an opportunity to see it again - cannot wait for the DVD!
ReplyDeleteI've been trying to see this movie for quite some time. It doesn't reach Seattle for another 3 weeks. Jane, our translator in China, has told us she has a small part in the movie. I'm looking forward to watching!
ReplyDeleteLucky you! You must've gone to the SF show? I missed meeting the wonderful women going on Friday in Berkeley. Thanks for sharing your photos, M3. xoxo
ReplyDeleteWe saw it yesterday and my eyes are still puffy this morning. I'd love to know how the little girl in pink is doing.
ReplyDeleteDonna
Donna, so glad you got to see it. The little girl in pink actually surprised the crew by coming to one of the Bay Area showings! Go to the facebook page for the movie and scroll down and there are two pictures of her - one with just her and Fang and one with the bigger group.
DeleteOoh! Thanks so much! I just took a peek and now I'm grinning from ear to ear! It was so nice to see her smile again after seeing how sad/frightened she was in the film. Such a big scary leap for these little ones! I found her Mama's blog too!
DeleteOh can you send that one over to me?! Would love to see it.
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