SHORT TERM 12

US, 2013, 96 minutes, Colour.
Brie Larson, John Gallagher Jr, Keith Stanfield, Kaitlin Dever, Rami Malek.
Directed by Destin Cretton.

While this is a small, independent film, it has much to commend it.

The setting is a small institution, for short term internees, children 12 plus. At the beginning of the film, some of the staff stand around and one of them tells an embarrassing story about chasing one of the youngsters. There are many stories told throughout the film, and at the end, the staff are standing around and listening to yet another story.

Some of the stories are very funny, some have their sad, even tragic side.

Brie Larsen and John Gallagher Jr portray Grace and Mason, two of the staff who work in direct contact with the kids. They are also a couple. But Grace is in charge, with Mason very agreeable in working with her. A new member of staff, Nate, is introduced with the stories.

It means that there are two strands of the film intercutting each other. The first is the story of Grace and Mason, their love for each other, pregnancy and the issue of whether there should be a termination, Mason acknowledging his foster parents and the influence they had on him, and the gradual revelation of the very difficult childhood that Grace endured. The actors seem very natural in their roles and communicate their personalities and their problems to the audience.

The other strand is, of course, the stories of some of the children in the institution. One of the main characters is Marcus, an African American about to turn 18, down on life, yet stimulated by music and rap. Mason is particularly helpful to Marcus, listening, playing the drums, sharing his aspirations. The other principal character is Jadyn, a bitter young girl, prone to cutting herself, daughter of a wealthy businessmen who fails to turn up at the time of her birthday, which leads to her wanting to get out. It is Grace who relates well to her, putting up with her critical comments, and her not wanting to be involved with the other children, yet having a capacity for drawing. Ultimately, she communicates her life and her emotions, especially with her father, to Grace in a story of a shark and its devouring friendship with an octopus. After she intervenes for Jadyn, Grace is able to tell her own very difficult life story to Jadyn.

A lot of the film is ordinary day life at the institution, the meetings and notifications, meals, birthday party, yet the tragedy of attempted suicide. The party sequence where Mason and all the other foster children of a Hispanic couple join together is an optimistic and welcome relief from the day-by-day troubles and joys of the institution.

Father Edward Flanagan, the founder of Boys Town, said that there was no such thing as a bad boy. Short Term 12, operates on a 21st century variation of this motto – that there is no such thing as a bad person and that friendship, support and love can gradually break through any shell that wounded persons protect themselves with. This is quite a humane and moving film.

1. The critical acclaim, the awards, the impact, serious and comic?

2. Institutions for children in need, the 21st century style? The institution, interiors, officers, meeting rooms, the students’ rooms, the grounds? Apartments? The party? The mansion? Realism? The musical score?

3. The title, the institution, for the children, the range of staff, the floor staff, the professionals? Help? Clashes in the staff?

4. The opening with the telling of the story, Mason and his following the boy, the embarrassing accident…? Everybody laughing? The end with the story about Marcus? And stories in between?

5. Introduction to Grace, the significance of her name, her interactions with Mason? Riding the bike, arriving, the talk, ease, introducing Nate? The group chasing Sam, catching him? Rules about not touching anyone on the street? The meeting, decisions for Marcus party? His wanting his head shaved?

6. Establishing the personalities of the staff? Their work? Jess and the team? The doctor and his psychological role? Management? Audiences identifying with staff and with students?

7. Introduction to Luis, checking on him, his clashes with Marcus, especially at the baseball and the strikes? The character of Marcus, his age, love of music, sharing it with Mason, the rap and Mason playing? Sam, his toys – and that later they were taken from him for therapy sake, Nate giving him one back? The doctor introducing Jadyn her character, story, tough, her look, the room, the posters on the wall, the penis? The drawing? At the meeting, not making attachments, nothing personal? Cutting herself? Cutting the word ‘why’ into her wrist? Her father not turning up, her birthday, the students giving the cards, later putting them on the wall? Being moved, the cakes and the candles? Talking with Grace, telling her the story of the octopus and its arms being eaten by the shark – what friends are for! leaving, Grace following her, the house, the key under the mat, Grace returning, the baseball bat, the father in his room, talking with Jadyn and, Jadyn and listening intently to Grace’s story?

8. Grace, her mother and all her men friends and Grace drawing them, delaying them in going to her mother? Mother’s death? Living with her father, the abuse, the explanations in court? His jail sentence? His imminent release? A love of her work, the students, love from Mason, their mutual drawing, his cooking, angry with the doctor about Jadyn and not being able to do anything? Breaking his lamp? saying no to Mason, the angry confrontation, the abortion? Jadyn and influencing her?

9. Nate, his faux pas at the beginning, the toy for Sam, his work on the staff, Grace reassuring him? Jess and her role in the staff?

10. The doctor, management, not being able to follow up on Jadyn’s father, Grace and her anger, being fired?

11. Mason, pleasant, in love with Grace, at work, at home, the meals, his love for her? The party at the foster parents, his speech, tribute, the dancing?

12. Grace, going to the gynaecologist, her pregnancy, decisions, her own background and keeping the baby, the previous pregnancy to her father? Her telling Mason that she was pregnant, his needing a moment, his happy response? The clash with Grace, the possibility of an abortion, and not being able to be with her? Her return, change of heart, getting onto the couch with Mason? The ultrasound and her delight? Grace going to the psychiatrist, her being urged to talk?

13. Marcus, the blood, his suicide attempt, getting Luis to help, his been taken to hospital, the news that he would survive?

14. Marcus and his story, the romantic touch, Mason telling the story, and Sam running out of the house again and having to catch him?

15. An emotional film, belief that every human being has goodness in them?