Ellen Foster - Ein Kind kämpft um sein Glück

Ellen Foster is the story of a 10 year old girl desperately searching for a true family to call her own. When her mother dies she is left with her father until taken away when the school learns he hits her. She stays with a teacher who volunteers to take her in and who gives her a taste of what a happy family could be like. This ends when her harridan of a grandmother lies in court by telling the judge that she wants custody. Turns out she just wants cheap slave labor, and she goes so far as to tell Ellen that she intends on making her pay for the death of her mother, though Ellen had nothing to do with anything that the father did to her. Soon the grandmother has a stroke and then dies. She is taken in by one of her aunts who is nicer than the grandmother but only on the surface. Ellen's cousin despises her and this situation soon leads to a fight that has Ellen leaving the house on Christmas Day to go to The Foster house. She thinks that the home is a family named Foster, but it is a woman who takes in girls that are unwanted or orphaned. Jena Malone as in her previous film, Bastard Out of Carolina, stars as the abused child, but rather than seem like the pedestrian movie of the week, it is a standout performance. She may still be considered a child actress, but it is very hard not to notice that she's got some great acting chops.

Because the passage of years has a way of fogging most adults' memories of their own "childhoods" - especially in the intangible areas of feelings, hopes, hurts, decisions, goals, strategies, etc., they will often conclude that "children" are sort of non-sentient, non-human beings - blank pages in-putting a stream of data for use in their later, more important after metamorphosis existence. I read a review once of "The Cure", a movie starring young actors Joseph Mazzello and Brad Renfro, where a critic in a backhanded compliment called them "two of the best pre-actors around." I suppose that was because, being under twenty-one, they must be "pre-people." Judging by a few of Jena Malone's recent public remarks, not to mention her own real-life experiences, I'm sure she would object to such an attitude. Certainly, her film career belies that attitude. The movie "Ellen Foster" is a good case in point. In it she portrays an eleven year-old girl who, when buffeted by the cruelty and insensitivity of the supposed wise adult world responsible for her care, sets out determinedly to shape a world for herself that does make sense. Ellen belongs to no one but her own unique really human self.

However, it isn't just the character who achieves the point. More important, by her powerful performance, Miss Malone certainly proves she is an actor - and person - of substance. Her ability to read and interpret with such perception and sensitivity the inner being of Ellen as she goes through her trials and sets out on her steadfast quest is precisely on point. This movie is a tour de force for Jena Malone. In the field of acting, she takes a back seat to no one ... of any age.

I was astonished to read the review characterizing Ellen as a "brat" who "couldn't get along with anybody." The title character in the story is sweet, gentle, and patient (although sometimes pushed to the point of frustration with people who repeatedly trample her.) She, in fact, gets along with everyone in the movie who is even slightly kind to her. The movie is a heartwarming and thought-provoking story that avoids being whiney or saccharrine-sweet.

Like many Hall of Fame movies, this is not a romance. There isn't even a romance side story. This movie has a depressing tone through all most all of it. There are some funny moments sprinkled in but they are overwhelmed by the darkness. Basically this is a story of a child who is abused. Most of the abuse is emotional and it is severe. She gets hit at least once. Her sick mother dies in her arms and after that she gets shuffled into mostly bad situations. The worst part for Ellen is that almost everyone, with two exceptions, not only doesn't want her but takes joy in making her suffer. The theme of being wanted is the heart of the story.

This movie is set in the South where "white trash" is a thing. Many of the characters in the movie, especially Ellen's relatives, consider her father to be white trash and that extends to Ellen by relation.

This movie examines the irony that when it comes to social services, family is worse than the system. In the first court case, the judge is adamant that family is supreme and that Ellen belongs with members of her family. (Was there no report by a social worker in this case? Hmm.) This despite a speech by Ellen criticizing her family members and expressing the desire to remain with an unrelated couple who loves her. Actually, in this regard, the system is pretty bad, meaning the court, but foster families are viewed as wonderful by comparison to relatives.

Jena Malone dominates the movie as what I think is a ten year old girl. Ellen's courage and perseverance are amazing. I find it hard to believe that such a person could exist given what happens to her.

As I said, the tone of the movie is mostly depressing. Despite that, the story held my interest. The pace was good. The character Ellen draws in the viewer.

This is a beautiful story about a young girl's (Malone) search for a stable, permanent place to call HOME. After her mother dies, she's sent to a series of different homes. For one reason or another, none of them work out. Then something happens (I don't want to give away the story here) that gives her hope of finding the home she longs for. She displays extraordinary strength and courage throughout the film. Despite everything she's put through, she never gives up. This was a moving and inspirational film. Jena Malone is excellent, truly one of the finest young actors in the business. She gives an outstanding performance in this film. It worth seeing just for that, if nothing else.