“Something Other Than Other” short film – a real look at a multiethnic family
SLJ (a returning MMW guest contributor!)
While browsing for short films from the Media That Matters Film Festival, I found one from last year’s festival, a very personal, very honest film about a young multiethnic family. In “Something Other Than Other,” Henry, an African-American dad, and Andrea, a multiethnic Asian mom talk about their personal experiences with ethnicity and race, and about the birth of their first child.
What I loved about this film:
- Both parents seem very in touch with their own history. They’re not playing the “love is colorblind” card, and they know that their child will face the occasional challenge, even as they expect and hope for overall acceptance.
- Some of the everyday things they encounter in the hospital are something many multiethnic parents and children face. Sometimes it’s obvious and in black and white, sometimes it’s more subtle – that feels realistic to me. The subtle encounters are the ones that will trip you up every time…
- An extremely cute baby finally gets some well-deserved camera time at the end of the piece! It adds a high cute quotient to what was not a saccharine film.
As expectant parents, my spouse and I are going through all the stages and landmarks as most new parents. I like to walk around thinking we’re just like everyone else. But there is a voice in my head reminding me that we will be reading forms more carefully than most, that we will likely have to fight more than one official for my child’s right to self-identify, that we may get slighted or insulted by outsiders if our child’s appearance is very different from ours, or if they only resemble one of us. Until our child can check a box his/herself, we’ll be checking three boxes wherever possible, or making our own box. “Something other than other” indeed…
Merq wrote:
Great post, congratulations, and good luck in everything from childbirth to graduation.
Posted 10 Aug 2006 at 7:05 am ¶
Lyonside wrote:
Thank you, Merq - that’s a wonderful blessing
Posted 10 Aug 2006 at 4:38 pm ¶
justin wrote:
I second Merq‘s congratulations. Anyone who reads this site knows that you will be a great mum.
Posted 14 Aug 2006 at 1:14 am ¶
Lyonside wrote:
Thanks Justin - Really, I didn’t post about the movie as a way of breaking any news
It just worked out that way…
But I do think it’s interesting that all the things I’ve always thought about parenting, and particularly parenting multiracial kids, is moving from the abstract/personal to the concrete/other.
Now is the time where I have to put my money where my mouth is, so to speak, and learn to show rather than tell. God forbid I raise a tragic mulatto
Posted 14 Aug 2006 at 8:19 am ¶
justin wrote:
Not to move further off topic but I’ve been waiting for some one to bring up abstract and concrete on some of the appropriate and authentic threads. It’s a fine line that I can’t contend with.
Posted 14 Aug 2006 at 8:30 pm ¶
Lyonside wrote:
Oh please, Justin, OT is where we live around here (well, sometimes)
I think a lot of debates around here happen because either people are taking only their concrete experience and making it abstract (for everyone), or people who only know the abstract force it to become concrete. The ongoing “I’m race-colorblind” concept/debate is a good example.
It’s hard for anyone to be objective, and when you’re talking race/ethnicity/gender it’s debatable whether anyone should be objective. After all, it’s our experiences that start the debates in the first place… I agree, it’s a weird line and seems like most of us don’t know we’ve crossed it until someone calls us on it.
Posted 15 Aug 2006 at 9:24 am ¶