Somewhere Between
| Year | 2012 |
| Director(s) | Linda Goldstein Knowlton |
| Runtime | 89 min |
This film profiles Chinese adoptees in contemporary America. Roughly 80,000 girls have been adopted from China since 1989—a decade after China implemented its One Child Policy. This film intimately follows four teenagers: Haley, Jenna, Ann and Fang. These four wise-beyondtheir-years, yet typical American teens, reveal a heartbreaking sense of self-awareness as they attempt to answer the uniquely human question, “Who am I?” They meet and bond with other adoptees, some journey back to China to reconnect with the culture and some reach out to the orphaned girls left behind.
In their own ways, all attempt to make sense of their complex identities. Issues of belonging, race and gender are brought to life through these articulate subjects, who approach life with honesty and open hearts. Interestingly told, each girl’s experience is a bit different and varying things happen to them during the movie. One of the girls finds her Chinese birth parents, and the scene of them meeting for the first time, then visiting their village is quite something. The birth parents, especially the father, is so struck by finding this lost daughter; we are reminded that this girl had birth parents who due to policies beyond their control, gave up a daughter they had loved and whose loss they mourned.
This film is suitable for all ages, though not young children.