The Boxtrolls Adoption Movie Review

Archibald Snatcher longs to become a member of the elite class in his town – the White Hats. He tells the leader of the White Hats, Lord Portley-Rind that a local infant – The Trubshaw Baby -  has been kidnapped by Boxtrolls, an underground society of tinkerers with their own language and unorthodox looks. Portley-Rind agrees that if Snatcher kills all of the Boxtrolls, he can become a member of the White Hats. Snatcher spends the next decade hunting down the Boxtrolls, ostensibly to ensure that they take no more human babies. *SPOILERS AHEAD THE REST OF THE WAY* As he prepares to collect and kill the last of the Boxtrolls, Snatcher is surprised to find that The Trubshaw Baby has returned. The truth behind Snatcher’s story is about to be challenged.

The Adoption Connection *HUGE SPOILERS IN THIS SECTION*

Eggs is a human boy who is raised by the Boxtrolls. His father committed him to the care of the Boxtrolls when he was very young, because his father was actively in danger of being murdered. The Boxtrolls raised Eggs as one of their own, and one Boxtroll, Fish, takes a particularly nurturing, parenting role. Both Eggs and the Boxtrolls seem unaware of the fervor being created aboveground by Snatcher, using Eggs’ disappearance to whip up fear against the Boxtrolls.

Eggs is confronted by a young girl who encourages him to look at his body, compared to that of the Boxtrolls. She notes that his hands look more like her own than they look like the hands of the Boxtrolls. Because of this, she asserts that he is not a Boxtroll. Fish, confirms sadly that he is not a Boxtroll.

Eggs is eventually reunified with his father, and together they join with the Boxtrolls to work against Snatcher.

In a way, The Boxtrolls reminds me of The Jungle Book – because of a traumatic event, a human child is being raised in a vastly different environment than the one they were born into. I wrote a bit about cross-cultural adoption themes in the Jungle Book (click here to check it out).

Strong Points

Fish is heartwarmingly tender and nurturing towards Eggs, without using words.

The villain’s henchmen continually question themselves, wondering whether they are really on the right side.

Eggs finds courage in the face of loss, asking his society, “Why do we go on like everything’s normal” when we keep facing drastic losses. This kind of reminds me of the growing voice of the adoption community demanding access to things of which they have been unfairly deprived – like original birth certificates.

If you stay through the credits, a song proclaims that some kids have families that look different than other, and that “we should be glad for the families we have and reach out to those who are on their own.”

Challenges

Young children who are adopted transracially might have trouble when a child is told that he can’t belong to a group if he doesn’t look like them. The movie does not correct this. The conversation in this scene is very powerful. After Eggs is confronted with the fact that he doesn’t look like Fish, he asks, “It’s not true, is it, Fish? I’m a Boxtroll. Isn’t it right, Fish?” Fish says no. “Was I stolen?” Fish says he was given. “I was given to you? Who gave me to you?” And Eggs crumbles to the ground. Fish then tells Eggs the story of how he came to live with the Boxtrolls – kind of like Po learning his story in Kung Fu Panda 2. After learning his story, Eggs and the girl he has met talk about what a father is. She tells him that a father is someone who raises you, looks after you, and loves you. Eggs asks, “Like Fish?” and the girl replies, “Yes,” then looks at Fish, and changes her answer to “no.”

In trying to stir up fear against the Boxtrolls, Snatcher gives rather vivid descriptions of the imagined horrors they commit – slurping up intestines and eating faces. It might be scary for young kids.

Some kids might find it very sad and confusing to see the Boxtrolls’ numbers dwindle as they are systematically captured and imprisoned by Snatcher’s squad. One young viewer in the theater with me asked his mother sadly (and loudly enough for me to hear from the other side of the theater!) “Why are they gonna kill all the Boxtrolls?” He was concerned. I could imagine it being very concerning for kids with abandonment issues or fear of loss.

Along those lines – Fish is eventually captured, and is pulled away from Eggs’ arms. A sad scene follows where Eggs, disconsolate, sits alone, trying without success to find comfort in the activities he once shared with Fish. It could be very sad for viewers with loss issues. In fact, for Eggs, this is the second time He’s lost a father figure. He gets both of his fathers back, and that seems to be the only reason he bounces back from his sadness.

Eggs’ first interactions with his birth culture are humorously awkward.

The villain dies grotesquely, first swelling and then exploding from an allergic reaction.

An adult tries to strangle and kill a child.

Eggs believes that he sees his entire Boxtroll family killed. He also hears people chanting for the Boxtrolls to be killed. Later, they chant for his death, as well.

Recommendations

Kids will like the Boxtrolls. They’re like the Minions from Despicable Me – talking in their own silly language, tinkering with machinery, and being generally good-natured. They’re not as cute as the Minions, though. While the Minions kind of look like Twinkies or lemons, the Boxtrolls look more like Gollum. Oh, and they hide in boxes when they’re scared, like the kid from Martian Child. They also eat bugs, and one likes machinery so much that he rips the head off a musical teddy bear to get to the mechanism inside. Oh, and they bite when they’re scared – Eggs bites a girl on the arm. Young kids might mimic that. I imagine that the film will appeal to grade school kids, but I think it’s also funny enough to be entertaining to teenagers. The young kids to whom it will most appeal are also the ones who might have the hardest time with some of the issues I covered in the “Challenges” section. I’d recommend this one for ages 12 and up, or for ages 7 and up if the parent screens the film first.

Questions for Discussion

Why did Eggs fall to the ground when he heard that he had been “given” to the Boxtrolls? 

What might have been a better way for him to learn his story?

Can people be a family even if they don’t look similar?

Coming Attractions and a New Poll Question

Hi folks! Just so you know what's coming over the next week or two - The next three films I'll be covering are:

- The Boxtrolls (Tuesday 9/30)
- The Maze Runner  (Friday 10/3)
- Men, Women and Children (Tuesday 10/7)

Also, please answer the new poll question on the top right corner. Thanks!

A Change of Heart - Adoption Movie Guide

Keith and Kim decide to pursue adoption. Kim is more invested, and notes that “a million kids out there need a home.”Brittney, a 3-month-old infant, is placed with Keith and Kim – however, Kim is diagnosed with cancer. When the cancer eventually takes Kim’s life before the adoption is finalized, Keith must enter into a battle with the adoption agency – their policy is that single parents not be allowed to adopt.

How is This Relevant to Adoption or Foster Care?

State laws and agency policies are (at least theoretically) intended to protect children, but sometimes the policies do make it difficult for good prospective parents to adopt. Some people are scared away or prevented from adoption because of policies like the ones in this film.

Strong Points

Keith eventually does view himself as a parent, and he defends the “reality” of his parenthood. While Keith is engaging in a legal battle with the agency, his family discourages him from continuing. He asks his mother, “How much would you spend to get me?” His mother counters that it’s “not the same thing,” but Keith says, “It’s exactly the same. Like any good dad, I’ll go get my kid back.”

Challenges

Keith and Kim pursue adoption even though Keith is not particularly interested and his family is unsupportive. It is concerning when assessing a family if their extended family is opposed to the adoption. It really should be a deal-breaker if one of the parents doesn’t want to adopt.

The social workers come across as pretty heartless. I know that this reflects the experience that some people have – and the fear that others have – of social workers – but lots of us are nice.

Some of the legal proceedings (and under-the-table dealings) in the film feel, well, sleazy. I wonder how often made-for-TV movies are the source of folks’ expectations of adoption.

Weak Points

The film could have the effect of making the relationship between adopting parents and adoption agencies far more adversarial than it actually is.

It’s hard to tell whether Keith is fighting for his own right to parent, or if he’s actually fighting for what he thinks will be best for Brittney.

Recommendations

There is always some level of interest when a film involves a single adoptive father, but the movie is a bit over-emotional, over-dramatized and not super-helpful. It’s probably a “pass.”

Questions for Discussion after the movie

What are the adoption laws in your state or country?

Why would a person in Keith’s situation go to court – is it child-centered or self-centered?

By the way, I added a way for you to subscribe for free to Adoption at the Movies by email. A new review comes out every Tuesday - make sure to catch them all! Sign up today on the top-left corner of the page!   And if you're new here, check out all of our adoption movie reviews!

Rocks in My Pockets review

Rocks in My Pockets is the darkly and quirkily animated story of the suicide, depression, and schizophrenia across several generations of the filmmaker’s family. Signe Baumane, a Latvian immigrant to New York, acknowledges her own struggle with depression and fantasizing about suicide. This film begins with the story of how her grandparents became a couple. Anna, a twenty-something college graduate in 1920’s Latvia, took an interest in her married, 50-something boss. After attracting his attention, he leaves his wife and marries her. Together, they have eight children; however, Anna finds herself feeling trapped and depressed. She tries to kill herself twice, but is stopped. She ultimately dies in her sleep at age 50. Although she had been physically healthy, her family attributes her death to natural causes or exhaustion; they ignore the evidence that she overdosed on medications. This does not satisfy Signe, who wants to understand why her mind works the way it does; she wants to know “the origins of the intensity of feelings” that she has. Signe goes on to share how she deals with her own struggles; by being available to other people, connecting with them and helping them, she finds the strength to stay “alive and sane” from day to day.

The Adoption Connection

Signe wants to understand an element of herself. She believes that knowing the truth about her grandmother will help her understand herself, but she is frustrated when people seem to try to hide the truth. Ultimately, she does learn enough about her family history to be helped. Although Rocks in My Pockets isn’t an adoption story, it does capture the importance of honest information about one’s genetic family.

Strong Points

Baumane has said that animation can provide a window into thought and emotion that live action can’t provide. She’s right; the film is successful in conveying to the viewer the characters’ dark, confused feelings that made suicide seem like an escape.  By the end of the film, Signe has shared that she is able to stay alive and sane each day by connecting with the people around her. Talking about difficult topics – including mental illness and suicide – can help make the feelings manageable, and this film brings those topics into view and also offers insight about what they feel like, a story of how they can be present in multiple generations of a family, and hope that people can survive the destructive impulses they feel.

Challenges

Baumane has also said that animation isn’t only for children, and she’s right. Rocks in My Pockets isn’t for kids. Characters plot their suicides aloud, a rabbit’s throat is slit, and a character leaves his wife for his young secretary, once she attracts his attention by wearing a low-cut dress to work. The film might be too heavy or dark for some viewers.

 

Recommendations

Rocks in My Pockets could be helpful for professionals or other adults who want to develop empathy for the inner world and inner experience of people who struggle with depression, schizophrenia and suicidality.  It opened earlier this month in New York and Los Angeles. Screening locations and dates are listed at http://www.rocksinmypocketsmovie.com/Screenings.html

 

Questions for Discussion

What information might adoptees want to know about their birth families? Why is it important for them to have that information?

How comfortable are you talking with others about depression? About suicide? How can we create a culture where it is OK and not shameful to talk about these feelings?

New Poll Question

Help me know what you want to see reviewed on Adoption at the Movies!  There's a poll on the upper-right corner of the page (sorry, you might need to be at a computer; it's invisible on some mobile devices). What do you most want to see?

New movies? Older movies with strong adoption themes? Films for kids? Films for adults? Help shape Adoption at the Movies into what you want it to be!

The Identical Adoption Movie Review

The Identical is the story of identical twins, secretly separated at birth. In 1935 Alabama, an out-of-work man and his wife become parents to twin boys. They are unsure how they can afford to parent both of them. That night, the father attends a church service where the preacher requests prayer for himself and his wife – for they have been unable to conceive. Believing God has provided an answer for both situations, the father suggests to the mother that they should give one of the boys to the preacher and his wife. Although the mother protests, she quickly agrees, and the next day, the preacher and his wife secretly take one of the boys to raise as their own. The boys are kept secret from each other; however, approximately two decades later, the boy raised by his parents has become Elvis Presley (in the movie, his name is Drexel Hemsley and he lives at a home named something similar-to-but-not-actually Graceland, and the songs aren’t actually Elvis songs, but, it’s basically Elvis.) Drexel’s missing brother, Ryan Wade, continues to be raised by the preacher and his wife, who anticipate him becoming a preacher. However, Ryan finds that he has a strong disposition to music, and his friends and neighbors can’t stop commenting on how much he looks and sounds like Drexel.

 How Does This Connect to Adoption?

The Identical is an adoption story. The actor who plays theadoptive father expressed that he took the role because he was adopted. But the Identical is a story of a secret adoption. The preacher and his wife have strong emotions of sorrow relating to their infertility, expressing “My wife and I miscarried again… Of all the gifts [that God gives, a baby] is the one we wanted most. All of our dreams were of having a baby, a family of our own, to love and take care of.” The father of the twin boys suggests that giving away one of his sons is the only option, “There is no work. They’ll take [the boys] away if something happens.” Their mother protests, “I’m not giving away my babies,” but the parents ultimately decide “We could make it with one.” Initially, the preacher and his wife decline the couple’s offer, but the father of the boys explains, “It’s God we’re really giving him to; it’s what the Lord wants. We both know it.” Eventually all parties agree, and the preacher’s wife promises the boys’ mother, “I’ll love him good, for both of us.” Before the preacher leaves, the boys’ father makes him swear that this will be a secret from both boys until both birth parents die. The next day, Drexel’s parents hold a funeral for Ryan, burying a small box that, known only to them, is empty. 

 *SPOILER ALERT*

Years later, in a moment of crisis, Ryan learns the whole truth of his story. His adoptive father apologizes for the secrecy. Ryan forgives him, and embraces both fathers as his own. However, he was tragically close to his birth brother and birth mother, but never realized their relation to him until after their deaths.

* END SPOILER *

Strong Points

Ryan’s father, the preacher, shows strong love for Ryan, even when Ryan is in trouble with the law. He explains, “You are my son, and I love you more than you’ll ever know, but it’s time for you to grow up and be a man.”

The Identical serves as an example of how some traits are passed genetically – Ryan looks, sounds, and thinks like Drexel. In fact, Ryan becomes “The Identical,” and is paid to perform in the style of his brother.

Challenges

It’s particularly sad that Ryan comes within feet of both his brother and birthmother, without realizing who they are. They both die before he can build relationships with them. Ryan’s wife retrospectively notes that when his birthmother died, “something inside of Ryan died, too.”

Ryan and his wife struggle with infertility; a doctor has told them that they will “never have one of these precious gifts.” This is particularly sad because Ryan’s wife works as a nurse in a maternity ward. However, they become pregnant by the end of the film.

One character suggests that Ryan should be told the truth, because “the truth will set you free.”

*SPOILER ALERT*

Ryan sees his father have a heart attack, and feels guilty because the heart attack came in the middle of an argument. While searching for pills to help save his father’s life, Ryan discovers the letter his birthparents had written for him, to be given to him after their deaths. The letter tells Ryan that it is “time for you to know who you are,” it affirms that his parents love him, it asks for forgiveness, and tells him “we’ll see you in Heaven.” When Ryan’s father learns that Ryan found the letter, he weeps bitterly from the pain of secrecy. Ryan chooses not to see him in the hospital, but instead seeks out his birthfather.  He finds his birthfather at the family gravesites. His birthfather is weeping, mourning the fact that he is unforgiven for giving away his son, and he is overjoyed to finally and unexpectedly be reunited with his son. Ryan then returns to his father the preacher, and tells him “Thank you, and I mean thank you, for everything, and I mean everything.” Ryan’s adoptive father affirms, “You are my son, and you are more than I ever dared pray for.” And just like that, everything is seemingly OK. Ryan continues to perform as a Drexel lookalike without ever publically revealing his family connection. By the end of the film, secrecy has developed into confidentiality, which is healthier. In addition, we see the strong pain caused by secrecy, as both fathers grieve. However, the film doesn’t seem to explore the pain that Ryan would feel about having this secret kept from him. He just kind of gets over it. And that doesn’t seem so realistic.

Weak Points

Secrecy surrounding Ryan’s adoption is profoundly present. His adoptive parents try to hide the truth from him, even though it pains them to do so. When Ryan does learn the truth, he seems unrealistically undevastated; his recovery seems far more quick and complete than I’d expect.

Recommendations

The Identical might be a fun trip down memory lane for Elvis fans, and it invites viewers to return to the music and culture of yesteryear. It also returns viewers to the prevailing adoption thought of the 50’s. Unfortunately, that was probably the worst time period for adoptee rights. Adoptions were historically public knowledge, and didn’t become confidential from the public (in the United States) until the late 1910’s when a Minnesota law made adoption confidential from the public. By the end of World War II, though, the standard for adoption had morphed from confidentiality to secrecy. That was not left unchallenged for long – in the 1970’s, the Adoptees Liberty Movement Association started advocating for an opening of sealed records, and the fight continues to this day. It’s a small window of time, maybe 20 years, where sealed and secret adoptions were the unquestioned order of the day, but many folks assume that that’s how things have always been. The Identical brings viewers back to that time, but also shows, to some extent, the pain caused by secrecy. The Identical could be an interesting way to reexamine the time period where adoptions were very secretive, and could inspire viewers to continue questioning secrecy in adoption. Recommended for adults.  (Read More on the history of Openness in Adoption)

Questions for Discussion

How did the adoption of Ryan impact each character: Ryan, the preacher, the preacher’s wife, Drexel, Drexel’s mother, and Drexel’s father?

How did the secrecy in the adoption impact each character?

What appeal does secrecy have, even today, in adoption? What harm might it cause?

Sesame Street: Gina Adopts a Baby - Adoption TV Review

A few years back, Sesame Street ran a three-episode series on adoption. The episodes, in Season 37, are entitled “Gina Adopts a Baby” parts 1, 2, and 3, and are available for free viewing on Amazon Prime. It's available on Netflix streaming, too.

Gina, a veterinarian, has decided to adopt a baby from Guatemala. The first episode visits her prior to her departure. She reflects on meeting her baby for the first time. Over the story arc, Gina shares about adoption with curious Sesame Street characters, travels to Guatemala with Maria (a friend who will translate for her), and returns back to Sesame Street with baby Marco. Upon her return, Gina’s friends are effusively welcoming, but she is able to express the need for some quiet time. As the last of her friends bids her goodbye, Gina is finally alone with Marco and is able to breathe.

How Does This Connect to Adoption?

The episodes very directly connects to adoption. Gina explains adoption to her Sesame Street friends, and then adopts Marco.  Elmo asks Gina, “What does adoption mean?” Gina explains, “It’s something very, very special. A baby, a little boy, needs someone to love him and take care of him. I want to be that person so I’ll adopt him and become his mom. He’ll come live here on Sesame Street and we’ll be a family.” The episodes provide an adopting parent’s-eye-view of adoption. After bringing Marco home, Gina reflects on her experience, “Mommy… that’s me. I can’t believe it. I’m your mommy now. I’m the person I’ve always been, but not just me. I’m your mommy now, and I’ll do everything a mommy needs to do – feed you and hold you, and together we’ll be a family.”

Strong Points

The show reaffirms the value of asking questions. It’s healthiest when kids are allowed to ask – and receive answers to – the questions on their minds.

Gina is surrounded by very supportive friends, and is able to express her needs to them as well.

Gina hopes to have Marco speak both Spanish and English.

One song portrays a positive, inclusive definition of family, “It doesn’t matter who you’re living with. If it’s love, you’re a family, living together and loving each other.”

Another song highlights a positive attitude of the friends of the new adoptive family, “We’ll make him feel at home because he’s coming to stay.”

Challenges

It’s not certain that Gina’s learned any Spanish yet.

Because Marco is pre-verbal, the focus of the episode is firmly on Gina and her friends. I think the episode is intended to help young children understand adoption; it will probably do that, but it might have been nice had the adoptee been a bit older, and able to speak first-person.

Once in song and once in dialogue, Gina expresses that she and Marco were “meant for” each other. She means to express her love for Marco and her happiness about the adoption, and her intention to parent him. However, saying that the adoption was basically fated to be seems to be discounting of Marco’s birthparents. Speaking of…

Weak Points

There is no mention of Marco’s birth parents.

Recommendations

spoiler alert: "yawn" starts with "y."

It’s Sesame Street. Each hour-long episode leads off with 15 or 20 minutes of Gina’s story, and then proceeds to 40 minutes of talking about words that start with the letter “Y,” so even though I’m writing about three, hour-long episodes, you could watch the whole story arc in just about an hour. At their core, the episodes strike me as a good first introduction to adoption. Kids learn from stories, and having these episodes be part of a young child’s viewing rotation can be part of the process of normalizing adoption. The episodes are not a thorough, complete picture of adoption, but they do present a good place for kids to start learning about it. Think about watching this episode with your kids, 2-6.

Gina and Marco are surrounded by friends.

Questions for Discussion

Why did Gina want to adopt a baby?

What will Gina do for the baby?

How did Gina’s friends feel about her adoption of Marco?