Film sends message home about the positive impact of fostering
If you've ever considered becoming a foster carer, a new film on a major streaming service outlining the positive impact foster care can have on children could help you make the decision to take the first step.
‘The Quiet Girl’ has already been shown to existing Wirral foster carers, and our social workers, as the storyline emphasises the benefits of relationship-based practice and the power of human relationships to heal one another.
The trailer is available to watch or the entire film can be found on Amazon Prime.
Our Head of Permanence Eifion Burke has also recorded a short video discussing the impact of the film's storyline.
Feedback from one foster carer who attended the screening event said:
The venue was warm, welcoming and beautifully quirky. The refreshments were great - especially the homemade brownies and carrot cake.
The film was a great reminder of how a child can flourish and grow when given the right care, attention and love.
It was a moving film and I enjoyed it although I would have liked a happier ending. I imagined that she went back with her Aunt and Uncle as I didn’t want to think of her returning back home, after making so much progress during her respite stay.
The film confirmed how vital it is for Foster Carers to nurture these children whose families have not always given them the love and care that they deserve. When a Foster Carer gives a child their time, attention and love - that child then feels safe, secure, valued and loved. The change in that child becomes apparent, just like how we could see the change in the child in the film.
It’s so rewarding for Foster Carers to know that they have played a vital role in bringing these wonderful changes about.
Many thanks for the lovely evening,
Fiona
Jen's review of evening and film:
I attended the staff screening of 'The Quiet Girl' at The Bloom building in Birkenhead on 23 November.
Never having been to the venue - or heard of it - I was impressed. It had a really relaxed vibe with such friendly and helpful staff, being warm and cosy with an inviting ambience. I loved the décor: modern and edgy that gave the place a stimulating and vibrant feel. This is definitely a place to visit and enjoy a brew (or something stronger!) and a good get-together with friends and colleagues.
The film itself, was a beautiful piece of cinematography that effortlessly dealt with the emotional and developmental impact of a child moving from the coldness (physical and emotional) of the family home to spend the summer with strangers, albeit relatives. Set in 1981 Ireland, filmed in Irish language with English subtitles, it follows young Cáit as she experiences love, warmth and tenderness away from her immediate family, something she has not before encountered.
The film captures the essence of basic, rural life in Ireland, with care and attention to detail taken to recount life at this time: from the beaten old cars; sparse living quarters; muted colours; simplistic living; and the daily hardships of farming. With subtle nuances in script and its characters, the film relies very little on dialogue to convey Cáit’s journey, being able to subtly interject humour alongside powerful and emotionally-charged moments.
For those who foster or who work within the fostering team, this film highlighted the importance and transformation that can come from placing a child in a home where they experience love, affection, trust and safety. Heart-warming yet heart-rending, this was an emotional viewing that brought more than a tear to many a viewer’s eye.