Review of Short Term 12 (2013) by Steven M — 11 Mar 2014

"Short Term 12" is a powerfully moving film. In a market saturated with Super/Spider/Iron Mans, this movie is not even remotely ostentatious, but extravagantly understated. It is simple, naturalistic in its execution, with brilliantly nuanced pyrotechnics of the "heart.

" We witness heroism in what is anything but glamorous; the ordinary, day-to-day, routinely interpersonal (and intra-personal) challenges of work in a group home for foster kids. These teens are shuffled from home to institution to home, witnessing and enduring unspeakable abuse.

Growing increasingly unwilling to open their hearts in the frightening uncertainty of their existence, these teens can be certain of only one thing - chronic rejection, by others and by themselves. We meet Jayden (Kaitlyn Dever) and Marcus (Keith Stanfield) amongst others, in the group home where they routinely test boundaries, unconsciously driven to determine what is and isn't safe.

The staff, deftly led by Grace (Brie Larson) and Mason (John Gallagher, Jr.) offer such safety, and much more; they test the boundaries of their own hearts, their capacity to love, as determined by their willingness to go towards pain, when every natural inclination is to run the other way.

The result is a powerfully moving unfolding of truth, and as such, beauty. We experience beauty in the form of the enduring human spirit; A spirit that will, in darkness, if given just a little bit of love, find a smoldering ember in your heart, and light a fire.