Review of The Kid (2010) by Eric G — 16 Sep 2010

It's a true and emotional story about the resilience of a child, growing in a dysfunctional family and with an abusive and violent mother. Natascha McElhone gives a very strong performance as the bullying mother, which is surprising given her beauty.

The themes addressed in the film are interesting and question social policy, foster care, dysfunctional families, the importance of a support network. But the film only partially carries the emotions to the screen.

The narrative structure feels often more like a disconnected collection of scenes rather than a story, failing to completely involve us and weakening the impact of the film. Although Kevin Lewin goes through some gruesome and difficult moments in his life, the film is never hopeless.