Adoption in the Movies十佳收養題材電影

孟潔冰

Many of our entertainment choices are escapist; we look for super-heroes or geniuses that do things we cannot do and in scenarios that don’t match up with our ordinary lives. We love to see ourselves reflected in the screen or story. It feels good to see a person who looks and acts like us triumph over difficult circumstances.

Adopted children are looking for the same reassurance. We’ve chosen 10 movies that may resonate with the adopted child and his or her family， and leave them feeling positive about their place in the world.

Anne of Green Gables （1985）

Lucy Maud Montgomery’s novel Anne of Green Gables， previously filmed in 1934， was afforded a TV-movie treatment in 1985. Anne Shirley is an orphan girl sent to live with a foster family on Canada’s Prince Edward Island. Though she has great difficulty controlling her temper， impulsiveness and vivid imagination， Anne eventually wins over her new guardians， domineering Marilla Cuthbert and Marilla’s shy brother Matthew. Anne’s journey is a happy one， but starts out difficult like many children adopted at an older age.

Lilo and Stitch （2002）

An alien mad scientist creates an experimental creature that escapes and arrives on Earth. A young girl named Lilo mistakes him for a dog and adopts him from a shelter. Lilo is raised by her older sister because their parents passed away， so this story has two strong adoption connections. This movie offers a great representation of a non-traditional family and affirms the fact that a family doesn’t need to be perfect to be positive.

Elf? （2003）

Buddy has been raised as an elf at the North Pole for his whole life. When he learns he is not an elf， he sets off to find his birth father， Walter. His reception is not initially a warm one， but ultimately， Walter acknowledges Buddy as his son. Some adoptees say that this reunification-themed movie makes them feel understood. For kids， it’s just plain fun to see a grown man act like a child.

Martian Child （2007）

Martian Child tells the story of a widower， David， and his continuation of the adoption process started before his wife’s death. His new son， Dennis， believes that he is a Martian. David must contend with this belief and gain access into Dennis’s world. Both characters are inherent outsiders and they recognize their common sense of loss. Martian Child is a wonderful story for any adopted child， especially those who have created their own origin story to cope with the absence of their birth family.

Meet the Robinsons （2007）

Meet the Robinsons is another animated film focused on the lives of children living in a group home. Lewis and his roommate Goob don’t get along because Lewis is working on inventions at night， keeping Goob awake. Lewis’s inventions also deter potential parents from adopting him. Lewis’s inventions are primarily time travel devices to help him meet his birth mother. After a number of time travels with a strange kid to the future and back， Lewis finally meets his future family. He meets his son， future wife and， in the end， future Goob who has been trying to sabotage his success because Goob never got adopted.

Meet the Robinsons is a happy tale of a child letting go of the unrealistic expectations of birth parents and coming to accept the love of a new family.

The Blind Side （2009）

The Blind Side depicts the story of Michael Oher， a homeless African-American youngster from a broken home， taken in by the Touhys， a well-to-do white family who help him fulfill his potential. At the same time， Oher’s presence in the Touhys’ lives leads them to some insightful self-discoveries of their own. Living in his new environment， the teen faces a completely different set of challenges to overcome. As a football player and student， Oher works hard and， with the help of his coaches and adopted family， becomes an All-American offensive left tackle. Kids heartily enjoy The Blind Side without even realizing they’re developing empathy.

Despicable Me （2010）

Despicable Me is a favorite of children and we want to champion it for its portrayal of children without parents. This movie is great way to show kids how much their presence impacts the lives of their adoptive parents. Gru is a super-bad guy until he meets orphans Margo， Edith and Agnes. They upend his life and his evil plans as they warm his heart and home. Despicable Me is a funny kids movie on the surface， but truly has a lot to say about the love of a child and the affect of that love on their new parents and home.

Kung Fu Panda 2 （2011）

Po， a panda， is adopted by Mr. Ping， a goose. In the second movie， Mr. Ping shares Po’s adoption story with him. Mr. Ping supports Po as Po pursues his own destiny， both a proud son of a goose and a proud panda. Family-friendly， amusing for kids and adults， and solid and direct in its approach to adoption， this is the absolute best family-friendly adoption movie out there.

Annie （2014）

In this recent remake of one of the most-beloved adoption stories， Annie’s positive attitude shines in the midst of unrealistically negative stereotypes of incompetent social workers and greedy foster parents. The songs are upbeat and catchy and the film is happy. While this film could be very challenging for （and should be prescreened by the parents of） children who have experienced disrupted placements or who long for absent birth parents， it is generally family-friendly. It ultimately emphasizes the permanent nature of adoption. It also gets points for allowing Annie to exemplify several strengths of foster kids： she is hopeful， brave， resourceful and resilient. It will be most appreciated by 6 and up.

Paddington （2014）

Very early in the film， Paddington’s aunt tells of a time when “children were left at railway stations with tags around their neck，” and picked up by parents who “cared for them as their own.” She tells Paddington that Londoners “will not have forgotten how to care.”

Some kids may resonate powerfully with Paddington’s feelings of hopelessness as he tries unsuccessfully to find a family. Mrs. Brown wants to help， and does so over the objections of her husband， who says that Paddington’s plight “is not our responsibility.”

The Brown family comes to love Paddington， and characters deliver lines like， “It doesn’t matter that he comes from the other side of the world... he’s family！” This could be an encouraging message for people who were adopted across national boundaries.

Mrs. Brown ultimately does become an adoptive mom to Paddington， but along the way is trying to help him reunify with people who know and love him. *End Spoiler* Mrs. Brown tells him， “I’m not standing by while there’s a chance of finding you a proper home.”

Paddington expresses： “A home is more than a roof over your head.”

我們的許多娛樂消遣都是對現實的逃避;我們期盼超級英雄或者天才人物做出凡人無法企及的成就、置身與日常生活格格不入的場景。我們樂于在銀幕上或者小說里找到自己的影子。倘若看到與自己面貌相仿、行為相似的人戰勝困境，我們會感覺良好。

被收養的孩子也在尋求同樣的安慰。我們選擇的十部電影可能會引起領養兒童及其家人的共鳴，讓他們樂觀看待自己在世上的處境。

《綠山墻的安妮》（1985年）

露西·莫德·蒙哥馬利的名著《綠山墻的安妮》在1934年曾改編成電影，此后在1985年又改編成電視電影佳作。主角安妮·雪莉是個孤女，被送到加拿大愛德華王子島的寄養家庭生活。雖然安妮很難克制自己的脾氣，容易沖動又異想天開，可她最終還是得到了兩位新監護人——性格強勢的瑪麗拉·卡斯伯特及其靦腆害羞的弟弟馬修的疼愛。安妮的經歷充滿歡樂，不過像很多被領養的大齡兒童一樣，她最初也遇到過坎坷。

《星際寶貝》（2002年）

一位外星“科學狂人”制造的實驗生物逃了出來，流落到地球。有個名叫麗洛的小姑娘誤認為這是只小狗，就從收容所里領養了他。由于父母都已去世，麗洛由姐姐撫養長大，因此這部影片描寫了兩種親密的收養關系。本片精彩呈現了非傳統家庭的生活，證明了一個事實：即便家庭不完美，一樣可以積極生活。

《圣誕精靈》（2003年）

巴迪從小在北極被當作精靈撫養。他偶然得知自己不是精靈，于是動身去尋找親生父親沃爾特。起初他沒有受到父親的熱情歡迎，不過最終沃爾特承認了巴迪是自己的兒子。有些被收養的人說，這部以家庭團圓為主題的電影讓他們感覺自己得到了理解。對于兒童來說，看到大人表現得像個小孩本身就很有趣。

《火星的孩子》（2007年）

《火星的孩子》講述了鰥夫大衛的故事，他領回了在妻子去世前開始辦理收養手續的孩子，由于新領養的兒子丹尼斯堅信自己是火星人，大衛必須應對這種妄想，從而走進丹尼斯的世界。本片的兩個主角都是天生的異類，他們意識到兩人有著共同的失落感。《火星的孩子》是個適合領養兒童觀看的精彩故事，尤其是那些不知生身父母而編造自己身世來歷的孤兒。

《拜見羅賓遜一家》（2007年）

《拜見羅賓遜一家》是另一部著重講述孩子們在集體家庭中生活的動畫電影。劉易斯和室友戈布相處不融洽，因為他總是在晚上搞發明，吵得戈布睡不著。劉易斯的發明也讓可能收養他的家長望而卻步。劉易斯的發明主要是能幫他見到生母的時間旅行機器。在影片中，他和一個奇怪的孩子多次穿梭于未來和現在，終于找到了未來的家人。他還見到了自己的兒子和后來的妻子，最后遇見了長大的戈布——因為從未被人收養，戈布一直想方設法破壞劉易斯取得的成功。

《拜見羅賓遜一家》講述了一個孩子放下對親生父母不切實際的期待、開始接受新家庭關愛的歡樂故事。

《弱點》（2009年）

《弱點》講述了邁克爾·奧赫的經歷。非洲裔美國少年奧赫自幼父母離異、無家可歸，被陶西一家收留，這個富裕的白人家庭幫助他發揮了自己的潛能。與此同時，奧赫出現在陶西家的生活中，也讓他們對自己有了些許清醒的認識。由于生活在全新的環境中，這個少年需要解決一系列完全不同的難題。無論是作為橄欖球運動員還是學生，奧赫都很努力。在球隊教練和領養家庭的幫助下，他成長為一名進攻型左后衛并入選全美最佳陣容。在投入觀看電影《弱點》的過程中，孩子們會不知不覺對主人公感同身受。

《神偷奶爸》（2010年）

《神偷奶爸》是深受孩子們喜愛的電影，我們要稱贊本片塑造的孤兒形象。這部影片以巧妙的方式向孩子們展示，他們的存在如何影響著養父母的生活。在遇到孤女瑪戈、伊迪絲和艾格尼絲之前，格魯是個十足的壞蛋。她們給格魯的內心和家庭帶來了溫暖，同時也顛覆了他的生活和邪惡計劃。從表面上來看，《神偷奶爸》是一部幽默有趣的兒童片，不過實際上花了很多心思來描寫孩子們的愛以及這種愛對他們的新父母和新家庭的影響。

《功夫熊貓2》（2011年）

本片的主角熊貓阿寶被一只名為平先生的鵝收養長大。在《功夫熊貓2》中，平先生講述了他收養阿寶的經歷。在阿寶追尋自己使命的過程中，平先生始終支持他，他既是鵝爸爸感到驕傲的兒子，也是令人自豪的熊貓大俠。本片適合全家觀看，孩子和成年人都會樂在其中，對收養情節的描述可靠而直接，絕對是最適合全家觀看的收養題材影片。

《安妮：紐約奇緣》（2014年）

“孤女安妮”是最受歡迎的收養故事之一，本片是對它的最新翻拍。在不稱職的社工和貪心的寄養家長這些脫離現實的老套反派襯托下，安妮樂觀積極的形象大放光彩。本片的插曲歡快動聽、朗朗上口，電影本身也充滿歡樂。如果有些孩子經歷過領養安置中斷或者想念不在身邊的親生父母，那么本片對他們來說可能是很大的考驗（孩子家長可以事先篩選），不過總體來說，這部影片依然適合全家觀看。影片最終強調了收養的持久性，也通過安妮展現了寄養兒童的幾個優點：她滿懷希望，勇敢無畏，足智多謀，適應力強。本片尤其適合6歲以上的孩子觀看。

《帕丁頓熊》（2014年）

電影一開頭，帕丁頓的嬸嬸就講道，從前有段時間，“孩子們被留在火車站，脖子上掛著標簽”，會有父母收養他們并“視同己出”。她告訴帕丁頓，倫敦人“不會忘記怎么關心別人”。

看到帕丁頓盡力找尋一個家卻未能如愿，有些孩子可能會對帕丁頓的絕望感產生強烈的共鳴。布朗太太想伸出援手，她的丈夫卻表示反對，說帕丁頓的困境“不是我們的責任”，不過她還是幫了帕丁頓。

布朗一家逐漸喜歡上了帕丁頓熊，片中角色說出了這樣的臺詞：“他來自世界另一邊又有什么關系，他是家人！”對于被跨國收養的人來說，這可能給他們帶來莫大的鼓勵。

布朗太太最終的確成為了帕丁頓的養母，但是一路走來，她也在努力幫助帕丁頓與認識他和愛他的人團聚。終極劇透：布朗太太告訴他：“我不會放過任何機會為你找到合適的家。”

帕丁頓說：“家遠不止是頭上的一個屋頂。”