Watch I Lived On Parker Avenue

"I Lived on Parker Avenue" is a 2017 documentary film that narrates the journey of a young man named David Scotton, who was born in New Orleans and adopted into a loving family in the United States. The movie, directed by Philip Braun III, explores the powerful emotions and experiences of adoption from the perspectives of both the biological and adoptive families. David's biological mother, Melissa Coles from New Orleans, shares her feelings of regret about the choice she made to give her son up for adoption when she was just 19 years old, and how she always wondered about the fate of her son.

David's adoptive parents, Jerry and Louise Scotton from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, welcomed him into their family with open arms when he was just a few months old. They had a loving home and provided him with everything he could need, but couldn't keep him from feeling a void in his heart, a sense of incompleteness as he grew up wondering about his biological family.

As a high school senior, David began investigating his past and learned that his biological mother had been searching for him. The movie captures the emotional moment when they finally meet each other in person after years of searching, and their powerful conversations about their lives and the choices that led them apart.

The film explores the complex emotions experienced by both the biological and adoptive families in a profoundly genuine and heartfelt way. It highlights the sadness and grief felt by biological parents who choose to give up their children for adoption, as well as the feelings of identity loss and a sense of not belonging that may be felt by adopted children.

"I Lived on Parker Avenue" also touches on the themes of forgiveness and hope. The movie shows how forgiveness is a powerful tool when recovering lost relationships, and how hope is crucial in keeping happiness and peace in family connections.

The documentary captures the thrilling moment where both families come together to show David all the love that they can offer. David's visit made them feel more intimate and loving of one another, sparking a new chapter of their lives.

As the movie progresses the conversations become more intimate, as both families recount their thoughts and experiences of how they felt while David was searching and how they felt when they met him for the first time.

Their stories are complemented by David’s testimonies about how he felt like he was missing important parts of his life, like his own story was incomplete. He also talks about how intimidated he felt in bringing together both families as he revealed certain details about his life, learning how much they all had in common.

Overall, "I Lived On Parker Avenue" is a moving and touching documentary, providing an insightful look into the often-overlooked complexities of adoption. It shows how the power of love, forgiveness and hope can bring families together after years of uncertainty and sorrow. It is a heartfelt reminder that, no matter how far apart we may be, there is always hope for healing and rebuilding family relationships.

I Lived On Parker Avenue is a 2018 documentary with a runtime of 30 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 8.4.