My Flesh and Blood

Winner of both the Audience and Director's Awards at the Sundance Film Festival, filmmaker Jonathan Karsh's frequently disturbing but deeply moving documentary focuses on Susan Tom, a single mother of two in Fairfield, California, who adopted 11 more children euphemistically known as "special needs" cases: youngsters with severe physical disabilities and emotional concerns abandoned by their birth parents. One of those under Tom's wide wing is 19-year-old Anthony, who suffers from the disfiguring skin disease epidermolysis bullosa--bathing him requires four hours because of the fragile nature of his skin. More damaging to the Tom household is the uncontrollable temper of 15-year-old Joseph, suffering from a terminal case of cystic fibrosis and ADHD, whose behavior flares out of control, resulting in vituperative insults and blood-chilling comments aimed at his adopted family, which seems all the more painful since the other adopted children are among the most intelligent and wonderful kids captured on film. Tom's perseverance with her adopted family is simply astonishing and her ability to inspire the youngsters to look beyond their physical conditions makes the word "inspirational" seem tepid (the sight of her two young girls, both born without legs, riding a bicycle offers irrefutable proof that disabled is not the same as unable). DVD extras include a filmmaker commentary, deleted scenes, and follow-up interviews. A powerful testament to love and courage, this is highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)