God Bless the Child

Greetings again from the darkness. Given its success at other film festivals, I was anxious to catch up with this one it at my hometown Oak Cliff Film Festival. What I can report is that my reaction to the film is not in line with that of others. While I recognize the purity and genuine emotions of the characters, and appreciate the cinema verite' style, I could never shake the feeling that I was simply watching someone babysit.

The first movie from co-directors Robert Machoian and Rodrigo Ojeda-Beck begins with young Eli diligently practicing his trampoline flips. His tenacity is admirable, as is his commitment to the goal. We next see his mom speeding off down the street, and we come to realize she has deserted Eli and his 4 siblings – 3 younger brothers and an older sister.

What follows is "a day in the life" of five kids who clearly have received less-than-stellar parenting throughout their lives, and have adapted by 13 year old Harper taking on the role of surrogate mother as the boys do what boys do … playing, fighting, eating, washing the dogs, exploring the area and arguing over Superman vs Spider-man.

Each of the boys has their own distinct personality, but it's Harper whom we most feel for. She is caring, loving, funny and strong in an unwelcome role to which she has resigned herself. Any chance at being a normal teenager was lost years ago, though a somewhat heavy-handed scene in the park ensures no viewer misses this point.

The five actors share the same last name (Graham) and I read somewhere (though unconfirmed) that they are co-director Machoian's real family. There is no denying that we feel for kids and understand that their future is as bleak as their present. The film does bring notice to the relentless challenges of parenting, and how desertion of said responsibility is inexcusable. The film ends with a very touching scene – one that only makes us hope that somehow these kids experience better days in the future.

I have no clue how they got performance like these from very young, non-professional children. It plays like a documentary. You just won't believe how real this movie is.

I was so afraid for these children. Being the mother of two boys, I can say that the situation seemed dangerous. I was glad that there was at least a camera person, hopefully an adult available. The scene where they rode their scooters down the street was frightening. I don't understand how a 13 year old girl could be expected to care for four very young boys; I consider it child neglect. The sister did the best job she could. I could not help thinking that it was bad enough while they were at home, but much too dangerous when they were out on the street. I understand that this is the dilemma for many families where the parents work, and the oldest child must care for the younger ones, but someone should have at the very least purchased some milk and prepared a meal for the children. I would think that there must have been a father somewhere, but I did not see any sign of him.

Is this a film with a happy ending and "everything is awesome" vibe? No, not at all but it is one about emotions and how we all try to go along in our daily life regardless of the circumstances or age. It is a film for any one who has had less than stellar parents and for someone who has not been the most present and accessible parent themselves. This film lets you be a fly on the wall for ONE DAY in this family's life and how the kids internalize their mother leaving them alone. It encapsulates so many raw and subtle emotions though into this one small glimpse. The nuances how the mother bolts out of the driveway, how Harper just knows that she is in charge of her siblings but for how long, how we are reminded that she is just a young girl in the park talking to a boy, the not so subtle ways how the boys take out their frustrations on each other, and how they just seem to get through the day. I know that some of the other reviews have had a very strong reaction to a scene with the boys. Having been the kid in Harper's shoes making sure everyone is OK and having been the younger sibling where you have this feeling that something is wrong yet no one is acknowledging it and having had to internalize those feelings, I had a very different reaction to the scene with the boys. I think they know something is of and their aggression toward one another is the only way they know how to express those feelings and they just sort of came from deep within. I remember thinking in that moment, wow other kids felt that way too, although I didn't resort to outward violence to express it and turned it inward on myself instead. There aren't many movies out there about depression, and certainly not from the kids perspective. That is what is refreshing about this film, because there isn't anything else out there like it.

GOD BLESS THE CHILD is a beautiful little film, a slice of life about a group of siblings on their own for a day, left to fend for themselves and get into various adventures after their mother drives off early one morning.

The siblings, played by real siblings I am told and non-actors at that, do a terrific job especially for their age. I believe the filmmakers simply shot them in their element, doing what they do, and used the best takes. The story is beautiful and so is the camerawork. It even won some awards for it. Highly recommend.