A Beautiful Haunting Look at Adoption from a Korean Adoptee
“Approved for Adoption” (aka Couleur de peau: miel), is an autobiographical animated documentary that chronicles the life of Jung, a 42-year-old Belgian cartoonist. I saw the trailer video on Facebook about a month ago and jumped at the chance to be able to preview the whole film. When you see the trailer, you see why!
The “Approved for Adoption” Movie Blurb:
According to his adoption records, Jung was found by a policeman wandering alone on the streets of Seoul at the age of 5. He is one of over 200,000 adopted Koreans placed throughout the world. As an adult, he returns to his country of origin in an effort to connect with his biological roots. “Approved for Adoption” alternates between childhood memories drawn in Jung’s personal style and film footage from growing up in Belgium, as well as from Jung’s journey back to South Korea, to search for identity and belonging.
To begin with the artistry of this film is incredible.
As a once-upon-a-time art major, I was incredibly fascinated with the style of the animation which was combination of a soft stylized realism in backgrounds and settings yet, a childlike cartoon development of the characters. While beautifully hand drawn and water colored in a muted pallet, there was still nuance in reading the faces; seeing the emotions play out with incredible depth. And it worked perfectly in the way of story telling; the animated parts were Jung as an adult, telling his memories as a child; so the simple drawings did demonstrate the childlike emotions, the memories soften through time.
In between the animated story was footage of Jung, the adult, making his way though Korea in the present.
Framing the History of Korean Adoptions with a Personal Tale
There was also historical footage about the Korean adoption program beginnings starting with the Granddaddy of all international adoptions, Harry Holt, flying the first batch of Korean children out of a war torn country in the 1950’s. These images went into old home movies that documented the actual introduction of Jung himself arriving at his new home in Belgium. It’s an incredible view of a real story.
I found that seeing it all documented and perfectly woven together was extremely moving. I kept on looking at all the faces of these adoptees; wondering what went though their poor little minds. How did they understand what was happening with them? Did they have any idea what was happening? My heart ached for them; thinking, they are all now grown adults, old than myself, can they remember, can they see themselves here?
Documenting the Struggles of an Adoptee
It’s not a easy story. It’s not a happy story, but it is not a horrible story either. It is a real story and most of all; it is Jung’s story and it is his truth. While drawn though a child’s eye, he does not cast a child’s feelings on it and gloss over or seem to exaggerates, but rather the same truthful light of recollection is shown on all. He shows the faults and failings of his whole family and himself. It is not a pity party; it is not a movie of blame. The good as well as the bad is reveled. It is a glimpse inside the emotions of moving through.
Yes, my critical eye makes me ask questions; why did his adoptive family who already had four biological children want to adopt a Korean adoptee? It was trendy, it was status for a Belgium village? What makes a area, like our own Minneapolis, suddenly become a hot bed of a certain type of international adoptee? You get the sense that it was his father’s doing; where mum went along for the ride as at times, she did seem to lack a certain emotional capacity and understanding. But that too, is often the reality of an adoptee’s journey; best intentions, but ill-prepared.
Certain things, due to the nature of my quest for truth telling, I applauded when they were worked into the story itself, though like many, I am heartbroken that it is true. To think a wide audience shall be told, so truthfully, how yes, adoptee’s have a higher rate of mental health issues and even adoptee suicide is common. Jung’s own adopted sister, rejected by him as “she was a reflection of myself”, lost in a “questionable car accident.” Only later can he see that they had so much more in common, so much that they could share.
Through the film, is the quest, the wonder, the shifting emotions about his original mother. In the current footage, Jung shares seeing his adoption files in Korea upon his return while in the past, he creates drawings of her, living out his childhood fantasies. It is a journey to reconcile the past and the present, what is known for what will never be known, east and west, lost and found, what he has and what he has not.
I almost want to be critical at the final message for it ends with an expression of love for his adoptive mother who, by her faults, we almost do not want to like; yet I cannot. While she was lacking and failed in ways, like so many parents, so many mothers, adoptive or biological, she is imperfect. The truth is we ALL fail our children in some way; we must. I cannot damn her, plus she does give Jung what he so desperately needs. He needed to understand that he was loved, he was wanted, and he was a good person; and she gives him that. I cannot hold it against her that she does come though and I cannot hold it against him for needing that or accepting it.
He question’s himself, doubts his capabilities in the relationship saying, “Maybe I only wanted to revive.” Yet I wonder, isn’t that the crux of childhood? I know my own children are demanding and always wanting. Isn’t being a parent about giving non stop, the sacrifices, the providing? What we receive from our children are little gems of pleasure, but we cannot hold it against them when they do not give back. It is not a grown up relationship, a partnership, a marriage, built on equal parties.
I wondered if that did not really pin point one of the issues with adoption that we try to avoid. There is often discussion about the expected gratefulness of the adoptee; the expectation of being “saved” and given a better life. Does the very act of adopting take away the child’s natural ability to be inherently selfish and demanding? Does it start off the score card with them “owning” the adoptive parents in the first place?
A Must See: “Approved for Adoption”
Hopefully this film will break out of AdoptionLand. Once certainly does not have to be Korean, and Adoptee or even adoption affected to enjoy it. The film has received several international awards including: “Audience Award” and “Unicef Award” at the Annecy Animation Film Festival (France);“Best Feature Award” at the International Animation Festival of Brazil; “Grand Prize – Best Film” and “Audience Award – Best Film” at ANIMAFEST ZAGREB (Croatia); and most recently “Best Documentary Award” at the BUSTER International Film Festival for Children and Youth (Denmark).
Show Your Support; Spread the Word; US Screenings in November for National Adoption Month
“Approved for Adoption” will be opening in New York City on November 8th, 2013 at the Angelika Film Center
Following with a Los Angeles screening on November 22nd, 2013 at Laemmle’s Music Hall
Additional cities are in the works but hinge upon the success of the release in New York City, so share please!!
