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Taproot issue 43 - October 2002

“Antwone Fisher”

It is not often that you get to see a movie before it gets released to the theaters. Thanks to the recent “Angels in Adoption” banquet in Washington, my family and I got this rare opportunity. The movie that we watched was “Antwone Fisher”. It is the wrenching story of a deeply troubled young seaman in the Navy who is prone to fits of unreasonable violence. Thanks to the intervention of a Navy therapist (played by Denzel Washington, who also directed the movie) we see his life story unfold on the screen. As we watch the flashbacks we can identify with the damage that the foster care system has done to this young man. Abandoned by his mother he suffers in an abusive foster home for 14 years before being sent to an orphanage. When he ages out of the system he becomes homeless and faced with no pleasant choices he joins the navy. It is a redemptive story as we see that the persistence of the therapist he makes adjustments to his life and end up discovering his extended family.

The best part of the movie was that when the lights came back on we had the pleasure of meeting with Antwone Fisher, the subject of the story, as well as Todd Black, the producer. Since the entire audience was from the adoption community, the ensuing discussion was lively and well informed. Mr. Black has been trying to put this movie together for ten years and it has turned our well worth the wait. Mr. Fisher himself was a pleasure to meet and seems to have totally overcome his troubles and become a well-rounded, healthy individual with a dry sense of humor.

The movie will be released on December 20^th. It is rated PG13 and I strongly recommend it to anyone touched by adoption. If you have parented a child who has suffered in the foster care system you will want to watch it with them, as the experience may awaken feelings of anger and grief that are buried but need to come to the surface

Mr. Fisher has also produced a book version of his story, which contains a lot more details. It has made the New York Times bestseller lists. The book is entitled “Finding Fish”. It is available from Harper Collins for $25.00 or go to your favorite bookstore.

Derek Stevens—September 2002