Adoption, Hollywood Style
When it comes to the moral and ideological failings of Hollywood, the responses from people of faith have run the gamut from vocal outrage to indifference. The new movie Orphan (above left)–about an adopted child who terrorizes her adoptive family–has invoked a new response campaign from the Christian Alliance for Orphans found here (above right). The site includes a bit of information about the movie, some adoption & orphan care facts, a petition that visitors can sign, and a list of opportunities to serve orphans around the world. Normally, I try not to pay much attention to Hollywood’s offenses, but as an adoptive parent I admit that I’m disappointed in the film’s premise. I’m also glad that the Christian Alliance for Orphans organized a response that includes promoting practical and actionable steps that have nothing to do with the film. I’ve never been a big fan of petitions or boycotts, but that’s just me.
Honestly, the movie doesn’t look like a winner based on its trailer. Beyond that, it fits in the thriller/horror genre that is typically defined by ridiculous premises. What I did find interesting, however, is that the actress who plays the adoptive mom (Vera Farmiga) appears to be something of an equal opportunity terror victim. She played a mother terrorized by her biological child in 2007’s Joshua. That film didn’t have as wide a distribution channel as Orphan because it was produced by a studio smaller than Warner Bros., but the fact is that it didn’t even register as a blip on the pop culture radar. My guess is that the same will be true of Orphan, but only time will tell. (Those who know me and my family’s adoption story know that the most terror-filled moment of our adoption happened when I had to change the first dirty diaper. I still have nightmares, and my daughter probably does, too.)
Ultimately, I think the Christian Alliance campaign is right–our best response is to continue to care for orphans, or better yet, increase our individual and corporate efforts to care for orphans. When we embody God’s compassion for the fatherless, we tell a story to our friends and neighbors that’s far more compelling than anything the entertainment industry can conjure. Furthermore, we then have the opportunity to invite others into that story, the long-term effects of which extend far beyond the box office.
Adoptive Dads » Blog Archive » Someone Else’s Problem says:
[...] myths and fear. We see it reflected in many different ways, from off the cuff statements to feature length motion pictures. I’m referring to the commonly held notion that children who were adopted have more problems [...]
Someone Else’s Problem « Just O.N.E. says:
[...] myths and fear. We see it reflected in many different ways, from off the cuff statements to feature length motion pictures. I’m referring to the commonly held notion that children who were adopted have more problems than [...]