Foster Child

Thelma (Cherry Pie Picache of “Summer Heat”) has several Foster Mother of the Year awards under her belt. For the past three years, she and her husband have been caring for foster child, John-John, along with her two teenage sons, Yuri and Gerald, in the urban slums of Manila. In Brillante Mendoza's FOSTER CHILD, Thelma and her family prepare to say goodbye to John-John, who will join his adoptive American family that evening. In the course of the day, Thelma and John-John attend a school performance, visit the foster care agency, and meet the abandoned twin babies that will be Thelma's future charges. But in their seemingly inconsequential daily activities-bathing, eating, driving-the love they share is most prevalent. As the hour of their separation approaches, the emotional intensity of the day increases. Thelma begins to realize that saying goodbye may not be as easy as she thought. Frequently using a handheld camera, Mendoza captures a documentary aesthetic to convey the poignant truth of this heartrending narrative. (In Filipino and English with English subtitles) – E.J.B.