My Flesh and Blood (2003)

Director:

Jonathan Karsh

Genre:

Documentary

Tagline:

Who says you can't choose your family?

Plot:

Documentary following Susan Tom of Fairfield, California and her 11 adopted special needs children. |

Plot Keywords:

California | School | Disabled | Wheelchair | Swimming

Awards:

6 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Anthony Tom	...	Himself
Faith Tom	...	Herself
Joe Tom	...	Himself
Margaret Tom	...	Herself
Susan Tom	...	Herself
Xenia Tom	...	Herself

Directed by
Jonathan Karsh

Produced by
Jennifer Chaiken	....	producer

Original Music by
B. Quincy Griffin
Hector H. Perez

Cinematography by
Amanda Micheli

Film Editing by
Eli Olson

Sound Department
Craig Burton	....	production sound mixer
Monroe Cummings	....	additional production sound
Andrea S. Gard	....	sound designer
Andrea S. Gard	....	supervising sound editor
Lora Hirschberg	....	sound editor
Lora Hirschberg	....	sound re-recording mixer
Matty Nematollahi	....	additional production sound

Visual Effects by
Aaron Rhodes	....	magic bullet colorist
Matt Silverman	....	main title design

Camera and Electrical Department
Jigar Mehta	....	assistant camera

Editorial Department
Geof Bartz	....	consulting editor
Marc Sadeghi	....	post-production executive

Other crew
Yvette Memory	....	magic bullet producer
Lauryn Siegel	....	production assistant

Thanks
Carol Hyman	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Chaiken Films
• Cinemax
• Home Box Office (HBO)

Distributors

• Home Box Office (HBO) (2003) (USA) (TV)
• NHK BS1 (2004) (Japan) (TV)
• Strand Releasing

Special Effects

• Orphanage, The (Magic Bullet services)

Other Companies

• Skywalker Sound  post-production sound services

Also Known As:

Runtime:

83 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Fairfield, California, USA

Company:

Chaiken Films

Trivia:

According to 'Susan Tom', the film shows her son Joe on his best behavior.

Unforgettable Characters in an Amazing Family

If not for bumping into the filmmaker at another SXSW Film Festival screening, I would have dismissed this as potentially a tear-jerker freak show. The synopsis did not grab me. Mr. Karsh did--he is as passionate as his subject matter.

Don't make the mistake I almost made--see this and prepare to meet some of the most indelibly etched characters life has ever created on screen. HBO/Cinemax has apparently agreed to pick this up for showing in late 2003/early 2004 so you should have a chance to see it there, but I really hope it finds release on DVD.

Karsh creates and incredibly moving portrait of a family like no other, built on the solid foundation of one amazing mother. With an engaging, suspenseful dramatic arc that could not possibly have been scripted, the film shows laughter, fear, anger, rage, love, frustration and difficult resolution. As in any family, there are no easy answers to life's daily challenges. With unique access and a "cast" of dreams, it is an absolutely unforgettable slice of life that should make each of us aware of how much we have for which to be thankful. Part documentary, part cinema verite, it is 100% engaging till the last frame. See it and prepare to meet the Toms.