Ep 21. Left by the Ship
- May 24, 2012
Left by the Ship is the twenty-first episode of the thirteenth season of Independent Lens. The episode revolves around the story of Filipino-American intercountry adoptees. It highlights the issue of adoption and its impact on the lives of the adoptees and their birth families.
The documentary follows the story of three young adults of Filipino descent who were adopted by American parents. The three adoptees - Rachel, Joe, and Donna - are now in their twenties and thirties. They all have happy and successful lives in the United States but are still grappling with the complex issues of their adoption.
Rachel, Joe, and Donna were all adopted as infants and have never met their birth families. Despite growing up in loving households, they each have a deep sense of longing to reconnect with their roots. Rachel has been searching for her birth mother for several years, but her efforts have been in vain. Joe has been struggling with feelings of abandonment and rejection, while Donna is conflicted about the fact that she was given up for adoption even though her birth parents were able to raise her older siblings.
The documentary also explores the impact of intercountry adoption on birth families in the Philippines. It sheds light on the social and economic factors that drive Filipino parents to give up their children for adoption. The film interviews several birth parents who made the difficult decision to give up their children in the hope that they would have a better life in the United States.
The episode also highlights the significant role that adoption agencies and adoptive parents play in the adoption process. The documentary delves into the practices of adoption agencies in the Philippines and the United States and their impact on the lives of adoptees and birth families. It also raises questions about the responsibility of adoptive parents to provide their children with information about their birth families and culture.
Left by the Ship is a powerful and emotional documentary that explores the complex issues surrounding intercountry adoption. It raises important questions about identity, culture, and family and highlights the need for greater awareness and support for adoptees and birth families. The documentary is a must-watch for anyone interested in the issues of adoption and the impact it has on the lives of children and families.