I Am Somebody's Child: The Regina Louise Story (2019 TV Movie) User Reviews

Gripping true story.

[juneebuggy · 7/10 · 2 October 2019]

That this is based on a true story blows my mind. It follows Regina Loise as a young African American girl who navigates over 30 foster homes. Unbelievable what this child went through, unable to be adopted by her counselor Miss Kerr because she's white, Regina instead ends up in a loony and fed drugs, along with all the other white kids to keep them complacent.

You get a hate on for the director of the orphanage who fights to keep Miss Kerr and Regina apart based on race. Eventually Regina ages out of any kind of care and is just put out on the street with nothing. The two never forget or give up on each other being a family.

I'm assuming this was a made for TV movie, it felt that way. A balanced, gripping story though, decent enough acting, Ginnerfer Goodwin is her usual bubbly self. My only criticism would be the adult/older teen they choose to play Regina as a child/10 year old. It was hard to take her seriously, maybe a child actor would have been a better choice then trying to ignore the womanly figure on a little girl.

I liked the ending, seeing the real people very moving that even after all that time they still want to be mother/daughter.

Stimulating

[samabc-31952 · 8/10 · 17 October 2020]

"I just want be somebody's someone" A journey of a young African American girl who is a victim of the broken system of this country from being orphan to a psychiatric facility during her adolescent years and then rises as a successful author... who finally finds what she had always pined for her entire life .. one of the most stimulating true-to-life story.. surprisingly, failed to draw critics but a must see ...

Goodwin A++ Fairley...

[RanDizzle1198 · 8/10 · 10 February 2020]

Though the story was touching, gut wrenching sad with happy moments I do have to admit that while Ms Goodwin provided a stellar performance, often times I wanted to cringe while watching the beautiful but nowhere near as talented Fairley. There were a few times I found myself debating on shutting the film off because I could no longer handle her. I'm gutted to say that because I thought she was beautiful and something in her eyes said she had it in her to pull off this role with ease but I really wanted to wring her neck in many of the scenes. It took away from the harsh realities that poor Regina Louise lived through which truly frustrated me because I do not feel that Ms. Fairley pulled the role to its true depth and she barely scratched the surface of the true hardships.

It astounded me that as late as the 1970's there was still such racial tension in your US of A. I feel truly blessed that I was born and raised in Canada where for the majority (not saying it doesn't happen here!!), we all intermingle beautifully. I remember as a child growing up in the early 1990's one of my best friends was a lass who was in foster with another friend. Sve was black and her mother (and possibly father) before her too. Her mother had been adopted in the 1960's or VERY early 1970's into a white family. It was never frowned on or swept under the carpet. Then in turn, my friend was placed into a black foster home but she too was adopted to a white family like her mother before her.

I find it horribly sad that a country such as the USA with all its powers and abilities STILL, to this day, has racial issues, especially in the south. SI find it shameful how horrible people still treat each other in this day and age. I wish in my perfect world, that we could all get along and be loving towards each other. However, that is not reality and the story of Regina Louise shows that quite clearly.

This film with sit heavy in my heart and stomach for ages to come however, I take some comfort that for one of the millions of girls like RefinaLouise there was a light at the end of the long, dark tunnel. It's an enigma though. Something that rarely happens. If we all chipped in to lend a small hand, we could make that difference for the Regina Louise kids out there.

Be grateful for what you have, cxherish those who love you and do remember to always tell people around that you care. Brightness to you, have a terrific day

Inspiring story

[srgemini · 10/10 · 22 April 2019]

This should have been a box office movie. What a story. Hard to watch how foster kids and loving caseworkers are treated. The real life Regina and Ms Kerr are heroes. What a beautiful story. So inspiring.

A Lifetime home run.

[pmtelefon · 9/10 · 21 April 2019]

Shame on me. I didn't want to watch "I Am Somebody's Child: The Regina Louise Story". Forgive me but I actually wanted to watch a Cheech & Chong movie (it's 4/20 you know). I'm so glad my wife wasn't having any of that. "I Am Somebody's Child" was great. It was beautifully acted by the entire cast, especially the terrific Angela Fairley. It was a heartbreaking/frustrating movie to watch. There was so much to talk about during the commercial breaks. I'll be watching this one again. Great stuff all around.

One of the best docu-drama's

[kparkslpn · 10/10 · 21 April 2019]

I love true story movies and this is one of the best ever!!! It's wonderfully acted and makes you really feel how Regina and Ms. Kerr felt. I will definitely be saving this on my DVR to view again.

Great story and really good acting

[bcreech19 · 9/10 · 21 April 2019]

The story, the acting, and the ending are all very wonderful. It was sad during the unhappy bits, but it was all so well done. In the ending you get to see the real life people in the story. I was crying And it was cool that the actors look a lot like the real life people. Beautiful story.

What a movie!

[grossi-58857 · 10/10 · 14 May 2019]

I couldn't believe the injustice this poor child had to go through. Thank God for Ms Kerr. The world would be a much better place with more people like her. A true story. Ms Louse i am sorry you had to endure that. So strong!!! You are amazing!!

OMG the acting...

[smokeweeda · 4/10 · 19 January 2020]

Ginnifer Goodwin is wonderful as usual. But the girl who plays young Regina was downright cringeworthy. Goodness gracious who told her she could act? This movie was a struggle. Ginnifer deserves better than this... and a e need Zootopia part two 😉

Amazing!

[kgtorres · 10/10 · 12 May 2019]

I have never written a movie review, but I just had to on this one. I think this is the best Lifetime movie I've ever seen! What a beautiful story, thank you so much for sharing !

Gut wrenching story!

[Jazzie-too · 10/10 · 21 October 2019]

Unbelievable what this child had to go through in her young life. Is it any wonder that she would have immense anger and trust issues! And Ms. Kerr was some kind of saint! It makes me want to read the book and see how it actually was. Nonetheless, this was a most outstanding Lifetime presentation. All the actors played their roles so well, it was too real. It got me so upset with that director of the youth home. I was watching this in bed and could not turn it off until I had seen the whole thing. Then I had some really bad dreams later on in the early morning hours. I recommend this to anyone who cares about humanity and strength through hardship.

Love will find a way.

[juliafrizzell · 10/10 · 2 February 2021]

The true story of Regina Louise resounds so deeply in my soul, it nearly broke my heart watching this movie. Although my own mother was no orphan, she endured a lot of the same types of abuse and indifference Regina suffered. Not to mention the lasting effects trauma and betrayal leave behind on a young mind. Let's just say I could sympathize with her "anger problems".

Angela Fairley's performance as a young Regina was absolutely brilliant. She and Ginnifer were GREAT together and really brought to life such a sincerely heartbreaking and heartwarming story. That regardless of politics, ideologies, ignorance or any other obstacle : LOVE WILL FIND A WAY. And this amazing story proves that. Thanks Lifetime, you made my eyes sweat. Again.

Best Lifetime Movie in Years

[kacarrol-772-445447 · 10/10 · 20 April 2020]

I have been waiting for Lifetime to make movies as well as it used to years ago and...here it is. I can't believe that not only did I almost not DVR it, but I let it sit once I did, without watching for weeks. The acting in this gripping, true story is top notch and the actress who played Regina deserves an Emmy nomination for her performance. Anyone who misses this heartbreaking, poignant drama...well it's your loss. One user review was very critical of the actress who plays Regina's performance. All I can say is that you must have been watching another movie besides this one, because in this movie all of the acting was stellar, and the lead actress who played Regina was the best of the bunch. In short...she was phenomenal!

Two Gold Star Girls

[lavatch · 10/10 · 24 January 2020]

"I Am Somebody's Child" is a gripping story of an orphan and ward of the state, who bonds with a kind social worker at the state facility in Virginia where the child is warehoused. The special relationship of the two characters was beautifully developed and was based on a true story.

Regina Louise was a young black girl abandoned by her family in 1966, shuttled around to dozens of foster homes. But the most disturbing part of her story was the shocking way she was treated in state-run shelters well into the 1970s.

Between the ages of five and thirteen, Regina Louise made a friend named Jeanne Kerr, who served as one of her caretakers for the children at the state institution. Eventually, Miss Kerr petitioned to adopt Regina Louise as her daughter. The devastating denial of the petition by the judge was based on the recommendation of the head of the shelter to continue to warehouse the teenager in a juvenile detention center in California.

Instead of attending high school and living in a good home with Miss Kerr, Regina Louise was placed under the care of a nearly diabolical psychiatrist and nursing staff that led the child to make an attempt on her life. One of the most heartbreaking moments of the film is when Regina Louise finally receives the bundle of letters written to her by Miss Kerr, which were hidden away from her during her stay at the facility.

Through her own tenacity, Regina Louise rallied and finally was released from the institution, graduated from college, and eventually wrote the book that was the catalyst for her reunion with Miss Kerr.

In the Richmond detention center, young Regina Louise had been encouraged to earn a "gold star" for good behavior. By dint of her resiliency and through the love given to her by Miss Kerr, both of these women merit gold stars. The desire that burned inside Regina Louise was "to be somebody's someone." The film dramatizes the shining moment when in 2003 and in the same Contra Costa County courthouse where her petition was denied twenty-three years earlier, Jeanne Kerr became the mother of Regina Louise. At that moment, both characters were officially "somebody's someone."

Ok

[svader · 3/10 · 21 January 2021]

If you're fed up with standard Lifety or Hallmark nonsense then you may like this.

Where's Tom Brock?

Could they not find a black actor tomplay the lead. The actor here is mixed race. Kind of misses the point of the film.

Wonderful movie, Great actors, tear jerker.

[Darnnells-42-95289 · 10/10 · 13 July 2020]

I absolutely cannot say how great this story was. It was heart wrenching throughout and heartwarming at the end. It will make you angry at the system that failed the child at every turn. It will make you angry at the racist, educated lady in charge who let her ego override human decency. But the end will inspire you and make you feel empowered as an overcomer.