Comments on Blacktating: The Art Star & The Sudanese Twins

I heard she was very unlikable in the movie. I STI...

2011-06-23T18:34:11.970-04:00

I heard she was very unlikable in the movie. I STILL haven't gotten around to watching it, but I am going to add it to my Netflix que right now!

OMG I watched this movie! BAD. I think I will prob...

2011-06-23T17:01:58.155-04:00

OMG I watched this movie! BAD. I think I will probably post on my blog about it, because it is so bad. That woman epitomizes a person adopting internationally for the wrong reasons. Even her husband was asking some pretty legitimate questions about "saving" two babies in a country where it is clear needs reform to help all children and their parents. I think everyone will find that you end up really disliking the woman, even though her tune does seem to change towards the end. WEIRD movie.

I've never seen the film and as far as I know ...

2010-12-20T03:05:27.568-05:00

I've never seen the film and as far as I know Sudan is completely closed for international adoptions.

However, you may want to research a bit as far as understanding living birth parents and adoption. In Ethiopia (where Angelina Jolie adopted) The child must be relinquished by city officials before they can be sent to an orphanage. At this point the living relative has legally severed their rights to the child and they are now the responsibility of Ethiopia (the town, MOWA, and other elected groups)- This is when (wait it gets bad here) due to short staff at orphanages they actually have heads of orphanages hand select children that they think will be adopted faster. After their paperwork has cleared the referral can be sent to an agency. If the family member tries to come back at any point during this time they can actually be arrested. This is Ethiopian law.

I have a two-year-old biological son and a four-year-old newly adopted son from Ethiopia. We found out his birth mother was still alive and asked if we could financially finance the mother keeping him. This is not an option in Ethiopia. We decided to accept the referral so we could have control over keeping him in constant contact with his birth mother.

I hate it when people try to depict international adoptive parents as thieves of children. There are a lot of reasons people decide to adopt trans-racially and internationally, most are completely wonderful.

I do think it beautiful to see a woman breastfeeding an adoptive child. My two-year-0ld is still nursing and my four-year-old had just been weaned by his birth mother. To aid in adoption I asked him if he wanted to continue nursing. He did! I am 100lbs 5'4" and he is almost half my weight and 39inches. I have always gotten looks (I am 24 and look like I'm about 15) in the mothers' nursing room at church with my bio son. Walking in with both of them has people really starting to ask questions about extended breastfeeding and adoptive breastfeeding. If the movie makes people start asking questions I think it has served a good purpose.

I am truly hoping it isn't just a glorified white woman helping needy black children. That would be such a waste of what seems like a movie with a lot of potential.

I saw the film last night, quite a performative do...

2010-05-18T00:35:15.222-04:00

I saw the film last night, quite a performative documentary, not sure who's directing who. but Vanessa Beecroft seems to be a very articulate, empowered art star on the world stage. some shots are stunningly beautiful and yet the part of undressing the children for a photo shoot, seems odd.

Its so sad that the twins Mom died during childbir...

2010-01-12T17:23:36.904-05:00

Its so sad that the twins Mom died during childbirth. I wish there was a way that the twins could keep their dad and still be partially adopted by their nurse maid person. It could be like sharing custody or something. That way, she could be their mom, and even raise them, I guess that doesn't happen.

Never heard of the film but your comment about Jol...

2010-01-06T21:39:45.151-05:00

Never heard of the film but your comment about Jolie's Ethiopian daughter having family sent to do some research. Somehow I had missed that story. Back in 1999 I was in the process of adopting an infant girl from Ethiopia. There were only two U.S. agencies licensed by the Ethiopian government then and the director of the one with which we worked (and who was herself an adoptee from Ethiopia) told us that the Ethiopian government only allowed adoption of children who were known to be orphans or who had been abandoned. It appears from what I am reading about more recent investigations that that has never been true and the corruption and maltreatment that killed the little girl I thought was mine continues.

Wow that photo is dramatic and eye catching. LEt m...

2010-01-06T20:51:32.258-05:00

Wow that photo is dramatic and eye catching. LEt me know how it is. I love documentaries.

Whoa, this IS intriguing! I will watch for it for ...

2010-01-06T19:44:22.673-05:00

Whoa, this IS intriguing! I will watch for it for sure!

No, I haven't heard about it or seen it. I am...

2010-01-06T14:24:19.011-05:00

No, I haven't heard about it or seen it. I am very interested in hearing your reactions and thoughts about both race and breastfeeding!

Very interested to hear about the film. Will have ...

2010-01-06T14:15:14.797-05:00

Very interested to hear about the film. Will have to see if my library has it!

Hey great film! Very Controversial, fascinating! I...

2010-01-06T11:12:09.175-05:00

Hey great film! Very Controversial, fascinating! If you need any more info on it or have any questions you can find out more about them at www.indiepixfilms.com/artstar

Enjoy!