Sitting down to screen “From Place to Place” I anticipated a compelling documentary about a couple foster kids, what I got was unexpectedly surprising. A walk down memory lane and a renewed energy for
the cause.
Indeed, as a former foster kid myself, I immediately related to the central characters. Mandy begins the film as a young girl scorned by the system. She’s strong and stubborn, living with her grandmother and
brother; Micah who’s in and out of jail. She questions the practices of care, but acknowledges that she was not without fault. I remember the feeling of uncertainty when I aged out of care and had to decide
on college, the scene involving her decision on school gave me a sense of nostalgia.
Next the audience is introduced to Raif, a street kid with a heart of gold who finds himself performing on the sidewalk for money and hopping trains to travel. Raif is a battered and beaten product of the
system not working properly. I’ve known hundreds of Raifs from my time in care; at times it was difficult to watch Raif self-destruct and his longing for a girlfriend. Raif is caught in a cycle of losses and
gains as well as an embedded sense of abandonment. His inner confidence and his sense of self worth rise and fall with every new adventure.
The cinematography is breathtaking, with broad shots of the Montana landscapes and skylines. Director Paige Williams sets the mood of the film by intertwining tremendous statistics and facts with
emotionally charged music and insightful interviews with the likes of Rep Jim McDermott, PA Supreme Court Justice Max Baer, Bessel Van der Kolk, Kevin Campbell, LA Senator Mary Landrieu and IA
Senator Grassley. Williams walks a delicate line incorporating educational facts with the touching stories of the main characters.
The film continues with a frantic hunt for Raif who has (as we come to find out is the norm) gone M.I.A and his social worker and producer of the film Matt Anderson’s compassion for his job and more
evident, his genuine concern for Raif leads to questions of whether it is acceptable for the relationship of caseworker and client to end when a kid ages out. After Raif is found he and Mandy are informed that
have been asked to speak at a caucus on foster care in D.C. Micah was unable to attend the trip due to another incarceration.
The weight of the trip is palpable as they prepare for their journey. Raif, in true street kid fashion will not fly and instead opts for a bus as his main mode of transport picking up a facial tattoo along the way.
Mandy, Matt and the rest of the crew having flown in earlier pick him up at the bus terminal. It’s quite clear that under the bravado that most foster kids show, these two understood the magnitude of where
they were and what they were there to do. Some fear and trepidation surface when they take in the sites and meet their D.C. contact.
Poise and self assurance are present as the two foster care delegates speak to a room full of senators and higher ups. Without hesitation Raif and Mandy answered questions and spoke to the problems of the
foster care system. Astute insight and factual data permeate throughout the scenes involving the caucus as well as a show of emotion by Senator Landrieu.
The film continues with updates on the main characters showing Mandy as a self assured young woman who becomes a mouthpiece for the cause, traveling back to D.C. on occasion to speak about care. Raif
continues his unique lifestyle finally finding a girlfriend to care about him. The film finishes with more insight to the problems of care and leaves the viewer with a sense of urgency and a need to do
something, anything to help fix the still prevalent problem of care.
On a personal note, as I removed the DVD from the player a sense of gratitude and fortunateness came over me. I had managed to beat the odds and statistics dodged homelessness, eluded a bad ageing out
episode and made my own way in the world. I could have easily gone the way of Raif depending on the decency of others, or have felt stuck and lost like Mandy or in a worst case scenario become wrapped up
in the penal system. It also renewed my commitment to getting out as much information about foster care as is possible.
Viewing “From Place to Place” is an absolute necessity for anyone involved in foster care. A tremendous documentary whose heart, much like Raif’s, is big enough to swallow everyone in the room.
DVDs of “From Place to Place” can be purhased by visiting www.fromplacetoplacemovie.com
Owner/Editor - Chris Chmielewski