Foster

I shed a lot of tears watching this documentary by HBO called Foster. There were many happy tears and many sad tears. My heart ached for these children and it made me wish that I could help them. My heart also rejoiced in their successes.

Emotionally riveting, this film takes an in depth look at the lives of the many people who collectively provide a sampled taste of what it's like to be a part of the foster care system. This documentary is thought-provoking with no shortage of laughter or tears. Everyone's individual story is meshed together and interwoven like a quilt in order to help give insight and a broader view of the blanket that is the foster care system.

Ms. Beavers is an absolute delight, while Jessica, a motivated social worker, gives us some sort of hope that there is good in the world and positive changes to be made. The film shows that there is still MUCH work to be done by discussing topics such as racism, poverty, drugs, social reform, economic inequality and so much more.

I highly recommend this film for anyone interested in the foster care system, children, social issues, families, social reform, and anything having to do with the youth and our future.

A movie that is, at the same time, uplifting and heartbreaking. Navigating a broken system that has so many people trying to make it work, the film introduces us to an amazing group of kids struggling to love and be loved, to workers who are doing their best to optimize the lives of these kids and the obstacles that need to be overcome. It is simultaneously hopeful and daunting. Definitely, a most insightful documentary.

This is essentially an advert for Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, which is an agency that quintessential basket case. If anything the data support privatizing this work. I suggest for a more honest appraisal that you read "A Culture of fear: An Inside Look at Los Angeles County's Department of Children & Family Services" for a primer on the documented systematic abuses by DCFS and avoid this emotional cherry picked bogus "documentary."

On top of that, the peer reviewed DATA and STUDIES show that 90% of kids with a given number of issues who would normally be put in foster system, do BETTER staying with their parents. Ie the science shows for nine out of ten kids put in foster care, their long term outcomes would have been better if they had not been taken from their parents.

Lastly the ten star reviews for this nonsense "documentary" are single use accounts, meaning the makers and their pals at DCFS are even dishonest in shilling reviews.

Have watched twice (because this is my field) and was underwhelmed both times. Not sure what one learns by watching, and know that many people connected to the system feel this exploited the youth profiled.