Movie Review From An Adoptive Parent

Have you seen the movie Lion yet?
My husband and I stole a couple hours away the other morning and went to see this movie. It was especially fun cause it felt like we were skipping school or something - a movie at 10:30 in the morning on a Wednesday. Who does that? Well, we saw the chance and grabbed it!

The first word I could actually utter after it was over was, WOW! I enjoyed every minute of it with tears streaming down my face for most of the movie. Lion is based on the true life story of Saroo Brierly, who as a young child was separated from his family in India and then adopted by an Australian couple and relocated to Tansmania. As an adult, Saroo can't shake the memories of his birth Mother and siblings. He became engrossed in finding them.   

The reality is that I may have to write more than one blog about this movie as there were so many great (real) themes running through it.

The first to come to mind was the representation of the real hardship and trial this child and most of our children have been through before our paths crossed. His start was across the ocean, but the fear, confusion, and sadness represents all of our children well.  
 
The second theme that rang so true was that of the desire of the adoptive parents to give a child love. It is how we all start - many thinking that is all it will take. But the parents in this movie choose to stay in it over and over again - no matter how difficult. (I could totally relate) They were a No Matter What and For As Long As It Takes family. 

The third, and for me, the most powerful and moving theme was the main character's struggle to just "move" on. Live his life. Try harder. Be thankful. All the things that people say who don't get it! He was, in general, happy and he loved his Adoptive Parents (his words). He definitely had more opportunities to create a really great life for himself than if he would have stayed in India. However, there was still a hole. One he couldn't ignore. He couldn't move forward. It froze him, even though a great life was laid out in front of him. The perfect girl. A loving family. The perfect job. Good friends. It haunted him. That loss hung over him day in and day out.

I know so many children who are living with that same hole. Some don't have a choice as to whether or not they try to fill it. For some, it would be unsafe both physically and emotionally. For others, they wouldn't know where to start - no memories and no documentation. And many more of our children live through repeated loss as they see their birth mom and then lose them again, over and over. And for others, if and when they do find their family, they experience the pain of loss all over again when it doesn't work out. The same hole...so many children across the world.

This movie did such a great job of presenting things realistically...not all the sugar coating usually around adoption situations. Not perfect, but SO much better than any other movie I've seen.

Why the tears you ask? I revisited my children's pain and struggles. I revisited my own pain and struggle too.

I felt like I was UNDERSTOOD.
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