The film, “Ask Us Who We Are: Foster Care in
Vermont” provided a different perspective on the foster care system. It is a documentary
film that focused on the struggles that youth faces in their lives in the
foster care system. The film in a way represented the loss and belonging of
wanting to find a family. There were many highlights of the challenges teenagers
indicated in their personal stories, the film also portray the determination
that grows within each of them to strive and not get up.
One of the main contrasts that I see with the film and
Dorothy Robert’s book was that it seems very different in the way how the
foster care system work. In the book, it seems like the foster care system is
dark and gloomy that no one wants to be a part of it and it is the last resort
someone will consider. In the film, it was heartwarming and giving. The teens
that are in the foster care system had great family that wants to help them
cope with what they are dealing with and help them strive. Another difference
was that in the book, it mentioned that the foster care system seems to tear
the family apart and not re-uniting the family but in the film it seems
opposite. The foster care family wanted to re-unite the children and family. In
one of the scene, the woman was talking about how she would ask for a picture
of their parents so she can place it on the crib so the child will know that
this is their mom and dad and not the foster care system.
Both of these accounts can be true. Depending on where one
live, it can provide a whole different story. Also, it also depend on what is
the main idea of the film and the book, it will give a sense of how the foster
care system work. Overall, the film provided the teens with a steady home and
love in their broken lives.
Chia C.