LIKE DANDELION DUST

US, 2010, 100 minutes, Colour.
Mira Sorvino, Barry Pepper, Cole Hauser, Kate Levering.
Directed by Jon Gunn.

Like Dandelion Dust is a very emotional film, focusing on the experience of birth parents and adopting parents. The film introduces each couple, the different backgrounds and experiences. Mira Sorvino and Barry Pepper are the birth parents, he an alcoholic, imprisoned, going through rehabilitation, who discovers that his wife had a child while he was in prison and gave him up for adoption. Cole Hauser and Kate Levering are the adoptive parents, affluent, a beautiful home, yacht… They are shocked when proceedings are initiated for the birth parents recovering their child.

The film shows the effect on the young boy, two visits to the birth parents, one successful, the other not. The film shows the effect on the adoptive parents, the desperation, offering money, deciding to flee the country, risking never being able to come back. In fact, they leave for Haiti with a missionary group. However, the birth couple realize that taking the child back is a mistake are willing for him to stay with his adoptive parents.

The original novel by Karen Keysborough for a has a strong Christian foundation. She acted as a producer of this film but the screenplay focuses on the adoption issues rather than any particular religious perspective, except for a church sequence and the missionaries working in Haiti. However, the film is one a strong values, examining the reality of birth love as well as adoptive love.

The director, Jon Gunn, shares the religious background directed Mercy Streets, about two brothers, one a preacher, in 2000.

1. The impact of films about family, adoption, birth family and claims? The emotions in the story of this film?

2. The contrast between life in Ohio, poor, working class, disadvantaged? And the seaboard, mansions, yachts…?

3. The title, Wendy and her explanation to Joey, a hidden wish, blowing the dust? Wishes for each of the central characters?

4. The initial focus on Wendy, Rip and his drinking, his violence, the police, his answers, taken away, Wendy and the bruises? His being sentenced to prison?

5. The focus on the Campbells, the house, the yacht, playing with Joey? The happy family?

6. The passing of the years, Rip and his release, Wendy meeting him, hopes, rehabilitation? Her explanation about her pregnancy, the birth of the child, giving him up for adoption, giving him away? Her not telling Rip because of the relationship between them at the time?

7. Wendy and the possibility of getting Joey back? Rip and his wanting a family? A boy? The setting procedures in motion?

8. Mrs. Bower, the go-between, her discussions with Rip and Wendy? The issue of the signatures on the adoption papers, forged? The reaction of the lawyer?

9. Mrs. Bower’s visit to the house, the toys, the room, the locks on the doors, the preparation for Joey’s coming? Her reminding them that there was more needed than things? The declarations of hope, love?

10. The effect on the Campbell’s, Jack and his being upset, going to lawyers, going to the Congressman and asking favours, but this being a state matter? The negative response to Mrs. Bower?

11. Joey, his age, the plan for meeting the birth parents, going to stay with them, the revelation of the truth, the further visits? His sadness of going away, the way his parents handled it, explanations?

12. His time with Rip and Wendy, in the house, helping with the building, things going well, his fear of having a shower? The effect on Rip and Wendy? Joey going home, the toy yacht, happy to be home, happy with his visit?

13. The second visit, happy, the issue of the shower, Wendy trying to control Rip, Rip wanting obedience, putting him in the shower with his clothes on, bruising his arm? Telling him about birth parents?

14. Wendy, her reaction, extending Joey’s time at home, giving him more time, Rip’s reaction, anger, drinking, brutality towards Wendy? Her not calling the police? Trying to comfort him, saying he had a good heart, but was not ready?

15. The Campbell’s, the sister, Beth, and her family, religion, the plan, Jack going to Ohio, offering the money, increasing the money, Rip refusing, the punches and fight? Jack and his anger? The decision to run away, the plan to go to Haiti, the risk of never being able to return? The plane ride, the work in Haiti? Beth and her realising the truth, her husband knowing and accepting it, what he would do? Beth and her phoning Mrs. Bower? The Campbell’s going to the plane, being held up by the police, their return to the United States?

16. Interrogations, Mrs. Bower and her fixing things for the Campbell’s? Wendy coming in, willing to give Joey away for the second time? Rip having signed the papers? Wendy and the necklace from her father, giving it to Joey? Their pictures in the locket? The love from a mother who wants to keep him and the love of the mother who could not?

17. The Christian background of the film, played down for a secular audience, a film about values? The intellectual response to the issues? The emotional response?