God Bless the Child (1988) (TV)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Larry Elikann

Writer (WGA):

Dennis Nemec (written by)

Release Date:

21 March 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Single mother, Theresa Johnson, becomes homeless, loses her job and tries to survive with her young daughter...

Plot Keywords:

Homeless | Homeless Woman | Poverty | Homeless Child | Adoption

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Mare Winningham	...	Theresa Johnson
Grace Johnston	...	Hillary Johnson
L. Scott Caldwell	...	Althea Watkins
Obba Babatundé	...	Raymond Watkins
Dorian Harewood	...	Calvin Reed
Jennifer Leigh Warren	...	Sharee Watkins
Davenia McFadden	...	Kathleen
Mos Def	...	Richard Watkins (as Dante Terrell Smith)
Jose Soto	...	Bobby Gifford
Shawana Kemp	...	Tracy Watkins
Charlayne Woodard	...	Chandra Watkins (as Charlain Woodard)
Akuyoe Graham	...	Charlesletta (as Akuyoe)
Nicholas Podbrey	...	Kenny
Brenda Denmark	...	Elizabeth
Kate Lynch	...	Carrie

Also Known As:

Children of Poverty (Canada: English title) (working title) (USA) (working title)
Le choix tragique (Canada: French title)

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

UK:15 | Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

Montréal, Québec, Canada

Company:

Alliance Entertainment

the American disease

The movie portrays the opposite of the American dream. Because for every great winner there are great losers, not because they deserve that, but because bad luck can strike anyone. And when just surviving becomes an impossible dream to achieve, that's when you know you're a goner. Homelessness is humiliating. It is more important that all citizens have homes and medical aid, than to be spoilt for choice, and become obese, sick with a third house and a yacht, while others have nothing. The Amercian dream should be providence for everyone, but the real nightmare is stark capitalism relentlessly leaving people out in the dark. This movie is incredibly touching and has a communistic message, countering the yuppie consensus of the Reagan era. It surpasses its format, eg, a TV movie. And surpasses most Hollywood dross. 10 out of 10