Adoption Groups To Protest Orphan
Will Orphan, the horror movie that opens this week, instill a terror of adopting a child into the hearts and minds of potential adoption families? The film suggests that the act of bringing the wrong orphan into your home could result in pure psycho drama. Adoption groups, already sensing trouble, are rallying to protest the film and to promote a boycott of its release.
In a letter from the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute to Warner Bros.- the studio behind the flick - they state that, “We are concerned that in addition to its intended entertainment value, this film will have the unintended effect of skewing public opinion against children awaiting families both in the United States and abroad.” The letter was signed by the leaders of eleven adoption and child-welfare groups and it also noted that there are about 129,000 kids in the U.S. foster system that are waiting to be adopted and that there are millions of children around the globe that need homes. The letter also stated that the film “may impede recruitment efforts by feeding into the unconscious fears of potential foster and adoptive families that orphaned children are psychotic and unable to heal from the wounds of abuse, neglect, and abandonment.”
Jeff Medefind of the Christian Alliance for Orphans is wary of the film because it “seems to suggest that orphans are damaged goods, and that adoption could destroy a life.” His group also launched a web site www. OrphansDeserveBetter.org that has a petition to urge the studio to not only put a pro adoption message on DVD - which Warner Bros. is considering – but to put a message in the theatrical release. They also would like to see some of the proceeds of the film go to help orphans.
Do you think these groups are bringing more attention – aka free publicity – to the film which may just draw more people to the theaters?
Also check out Shannon’s Adopted Children = Psycho Killers
Related Posts:
Related Posts:- Federal Program Aims at Increasing Adoption of Black Foster Kids
- Every Kid Deserves A Family
- Couple Adopts 23-Year-Old Man Labeled “Unadoptable” as Child
- International Adoptions Hit 13-Year-Low
- Adopted Children = Psycho Killers?
Tags: adoption, film, Movies, orphan, Sunny Chanel
15 Comments
[...] adoption advocates are promoting a boycott of a horror movie few (were) likely to see. In a letter from the Congressional Coalition on [...]
the irrelevancy of advocacy groups « ATLmalcontent commented on Jul 21 09 at 2:10 am[...] a big and I mean big twist at the end. A twist so unreal and completly unplausible that the idea of boycotts, protests and that the adoption community would be upset seems silly albetit well intentioned. Wanna know the reported twist ? (SPOILER ALERT) [...]
Orphan Update: Surpise Twist Ending | Strollerderby commented on Jul 24 09 at 5:57 pmina commented on Jul 20 09 at 4:07 pmProtesting this film does not strike me as energy well spent. Instead, advocate for better funding for children’s mental health services.
bettywu commented on Jul 20 09 at 5:05 pmIn a related move, the NHL has begun a vigorous lobbying campaign to force the removal of all “Friday the 13th” DVD’s from store shelves and prevent additional theatrical sequels from release. “It’s hard enough getting kids to play goalie, this franchise makes that uphill battle harder by painting all goalies as homicidal maniacs.” The NHL is still considering joining Black and Decker (Decker v. “Saw”) and The Colorado Innkeepers Society (Overlook Hotel v. “The Shining”) in seeking legal redress. Reached for comment on their current lawsuit against a host of babysitting themed horror films, a spokesman for AT&T declined to discuss the details of the legal action and would only state “People need to know that only about 9 out of 10 calls are actually coming from inside the house.”
cocobean commented on Jul 20 09 at 8:42 pmbettywu that is awesome!
Voice of Reason commented on Jul 20 09 at 11:34 pmBettywu, pat yourself on the back. Brilliant.
Robyn commented on Jul 20 09 at 11:45 pmI agree that protesting this film is not going to do any good. While I find bettywu’s comment HILARIOUS, there’s a big difference between a goalie-mask wearing bad guy and feeding into an all-too-common stereotype.
There is a huge misperception that older children aren’t adoptable, and people who do adopt them are putting their lives at risk. One of my own family members mused that we might want to be careful because they had friends who adopted a daughter from foster care, and oh the awful things that happened to them! Orphan isn’t doing waiting kids any favors. In addition, it most likely gets all of the adoption-related process wrong. But moviegoers are still going to use it as a reference when friends or family tell them they’re thinking of adopting.
Ali commented on Jul 21 09 at 12:48 amThe real reason so many adoptive parents like myself dont like this movie is that we dont want other children to tease our kids. They have it hard enough just being adopted. They dont need the myth going along with it that they are dangerous or psycho. You know how kids tease. If the movie prevents people from adopting then great. Those kinds of people do not need to adopt anyway. The real issue is the hurt it may cause the thousands of children already dealing with issues related to adoption. They just dont need anymore baggage for the bullies to use against them.
leahsmom commented on Jul 21 09 at 8:45 amI also found bettywu’s comment really funny - I thought at first it might be an Onion article!
But I disagree that folks shouldn’t protest. There is never enough time, money or passion to fix the big problems. But I don’t think that’s a good enough reason, as the first poster suggested, not to stand up for something if you believe in it. You can only care about so many things - and if adoption groups feel that this movie is a good place to make a point, I don’t think that’s a bad idea.
Is this a common trope in horror movies, a common way to explore ideas of difference, alienation, and separation? Absolutely. But that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t touch on an important societal issue - how society regards and treats adoptive families and children. It’s not an either or. There are many ways in which our devaluing of women, minorities, those with disabilities, the sick - and yes, the adopted - are expressed, and some of these are through movie and film. This trope is one of them. I think it is good to call attention to these expressions, to be aware of them, to think critically about one’s own reactions and feelings about adoption, or about women, gays, persons with disabilities, minorities, and scrutinize where those reactions are coming from.
Will the protest solve the problem? By no means. But if it gets some people to think and pay attention - that can’t be a bad thing.
Manjari commented on Jul 21 09 at 9:59 amBettywu, you should work for the Onion! Your comment was really funny. I also agree with the rest of leahsmom’s comment.
Ali commented on Jul 21 09 at 1:17 pmHey, Bettywu, can you write a funny one about violent Autistic kids, kids with Cerebral Palsy and that other hilarious affliction, Down Syndrome? Next thing you know they wont let us make horror movies about the psychotic retarded kid or the homocidal rapist in the wheelchair.
Mistress_Scorpio commented on Jul 21 09 at 2:03 pmBettywu, that was awesome. Leahsmom, I agree as well.
bettywu commented on Jul 21 09 at 4:20 pmThank you for the kind words all, I’m glad most of you enjoyed the comment. I am a huge supporter of adoption. 9 of my nieces and nephews are adopted and they are all fantastic kids and adults. But it strikes me as a little ridiculous that people will weigh the pros and cons of adoption based on a horror film. As someone stated above, if that’s how your making your decision I’m perfectly comfortable with you passing on adoption. To leahsmom’s comment, I wonder if adoption advocates calling attention to this issue through this is counterproductive. This movie would probably just be a blip, but making a big deal of it actually highlights and legitimizes the ridiculous idea that adopted kids are inherently unstable.
The issue of adopted kids being made fun of based on this seems like an real possible negative. In my experience none of the kids I know have been mocked for being adopted, mostly it’s treated as something cool, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen.
Ali. One of my pet-peeves is when people hide from criticism behind the cop-out “hey, can’t you take a joke?” But. Seriously. This wasn’t meant to vilify someone with a disability or mock adopted people. I actually find it slightly offensive that you equate being adopted with having a genetic disorder. But maybe I’m misreading you.
Shana commented on Jul 21 09 at 4:41 pmThere are so many movies out there in existence already about adopted children killing the other kids and causing problems. Slate actually had a really great article about it not too long ago about the whole phenomenon of killer children in movies. They did everything from The Bad Seed to the moist recent Joshua (which is a disturbing movie to watch). They discussed the difference with adopted children and non-adopted children in these movies. If anyone thinks that children are suddenly going to be adopted less because of this film, they should be relieved that idiots won’t be adopting these kids.
And spoiler alert, apparently the big twist at the end is that she is actually a midget prostitute posing as a child! I am totally looking forward to the hilarity that shall ensue.
montford commented on Jul 26 09 at 9:19 pmI just saw this movie and think it is great. By making these protests I think you are hurting the adoption cause more by making a big deal out of it.
