America

I just came from an advance screening (this film will air on Lifetime on 2/28/09) and recommend this film highly.

This film follows the story of America, a 17-year-old boy who was part of the foster-care system, but now is housed in a state-run residential facility.

Rosie O'Donnell plays the counselor who tries to break through America's walls enough for him to trust her with the secret burden he carries.

Rosie's performance was understated and brilliant and Ruby Dee is magnificent as Mrs. Harper, the grandmotherly source of the little bit of love that America has ever known.

The other residents of the facility also turn in wonderful performances-- archetypes but not stereotypes.

The young man cast as America had never acted before. After seeing dozens of young actors, Rosie found him in a diner TWO DAYS before principal photography was set to begin. What a find.

Though the horrors of America's past are telegraphed early via dissociative flashes of memory and images of Mount Everest (America's 'quiet place'), sickened gasps could still be heard in the audience as the events unfold, and most of the crowd had shed tears before the closing credits rolled.

If you have any association with the foster-care system, you MUST see this film. If you are unaware of the statistics, the epilogue of the film will educate you-- and break your heart.

I smell Emmys.

America was the name of this older teen in the foster care system. This movie was very powerful as you could see via the flashbacks that America had been loved at one point in his young life and longed for love again deep down though he acted like he didn't care about anything.

Why don't more people foster kids I wonder? So many horror stories in the news are about horrific events done to and by foster kids. And so many TV shows show the negative side of it as well.

My husband and I fostered our daughter before she was available for adoption. And yes we took a chance that we may lose her. But it was worth it. She needed love then when she was a foster kid as well as now.

I hope more people watch this movie and gain some empathy for the kids that need our love and support.

This aired on TV, and I merely found myself interested in the unusual title. I looked it up once I saw it in the listings a few hours before it came on, and I hoped it was good once I read up on it a little. It is. The opening and closing monologues are cheesy, and it can be corny here and there, but other than that, this is marvelous. I've never really had a problem with Rosie O'Donnell; well, not as big of one as everyone else seems to. She's not that much of an actor(she's fine here, though), no, but neither are many of the current big Hollywood stars. And fortunately, in this, she is not irritating. Every other performance is impressive, particularly the lead(how was this kid undiscovered?), who is *amazing*. The characters are all well-written and credible. I was very glad to find this immensely psychologically accurate and realistic. This is a genuinely sweet, very emotional and effective drama. It is intense whenever it goes for such. The music is great and fitting. There is some humor in this, a bit of it black comedy. This has surprisingly well-done editing and cinematography; it stops short of being flashy, and works well. There is a lot of disturbing content and occasional violence in this. I recommend this to anyone who wants a believable story of the often tragic lives of foster kids. 9/10