The Broken Cord

The film gives an accurate picture of the problems faced by parents of FAS children.

The movie is based on the autobiographical story by the same name, which dealt with Michael Dorris' adoption of his son Abel. When Abel was adopted little was known about FAS (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome) and Michael Dorris learned after the fact that Abel suffered from FAS.

FAS children display a range of physical, mental, and psychological characteristics, more or less pronounced depending on the amount of exposure and when they were exposed during gestation. While Downs Syndrome children can often excel in school and jobs, FAS children, due to diminished cognition, judgment, and poor impulse control, amongst other things, generally cannot adapt to independent living.

Dorris adopted three FAS children and his efforts almost singlehandedly brought into existence a national movement against fetal alcohol syndrome. Sadly, Abel was killed in 1991, at age 23, by a hit and run driver, and Michael Dorris committed suicide April 11, 1997.

Some may go for a film like this but I most assuredly did not. A college professor, David Norwell, suddenly gets a yen for adoption. He pretty much takes the first child offered, a bad choice named Adam. As it turns out Adam doesn't have both oars in the water which, almost immediately, causes untold stress and turmoil for Dr. Norwell. This sob story drolly played out with one problem after another, all centered around Adam's inabilities and seizures. Why Norwell wanted to complicate his life with an unknown factor like an adoptive child was never explained. Along the way the good doctor managed to attract a wifey to share in all the hell the little one was dishing out. Personally, I think both of them were one beer short of a sixpack. Bypass this yawner.

Channel zapping one night I just caught the start of this movie and it hooked me from the beginning. It tells the sad story of an adopted child, Adam, whose mother left him after birth. The movie takes us through his childhood, and makes us discover a very disturbing fact from Adam's past. I will not reveal more, but it is a very in-depth movie and will intrigue you for sure. This was one of Jimmy Smits best roles in my opinion.

This story focuses on the birth defect known as FAS, or Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, a disease diagnosed too often among Native Americans. In spite of the down-beat nature of this drama, the great script and the characterizations move the story along very well. This is arguably Smits best performance.

This was a excellent movie. I deal with a child who I am raising that has FAE and watching this movie was more than word can explain. I also purchased the book and it was great. I would like to have a copy for my own use and so I can have my son's teachers watch it also.I would like to know if anyone could sell me a copy of this movie, let me use it for a time or refer me to someone where I could purchase it. Thank You, Myra I would recommend this movie to anyone who deal with children/adults with special ability's. This movie should be shown again on TV. The team of doctor's that have been tracking my son would also like to have a copy. His special Ed teacher has also asked me to try to locate a copy that he can have or that he can borrow.

Thank You