The Swiis Foster Care Permanence team have been trying a new initiative where carer support groups are focused around a theme. In September, our theme was ‘life story work’ and was centred around the movie ‘Lion’.
The carers were invited to watch the film prior to the meeting. Some watched it alone, and others arranged to meet up and watch together. Either way, they all joked about enjoying the excuse of doing their ‘homework’ to make time for themselves to sit and enjoy a movie!
‘Lion’ is a biographical film based on the book ‘A Long Way Home’ by Saroo Brierley. It tells the true story of a five-year-old Saroo, who gets lost on a train which takes him thousands of miles across India and away from his family and home. Saroo must learn to survive in Kolkata, before ultimately being adopted by an Australian couple. Twenty-five years later, he sets out to find his lost family.
We explored some of the key themes from Saroo’s story and how they resonated with the carers’ own experiences. Some of the themes included: managing dual family membership and the emotional impact it can have on carers, dealing with the different ways siblings can respond to hearing parts of their own life story, and the universal need to make sense of our own story.
One carer shared: “What a powerful movie about the importance of knowing and understanding your life story. It was so poignant and relatable to the children that we all look after. They’ve all come from somewhere and have had a life before being in our care. It really reminded me how important life story work is and the importance of doing it in the most honest, simple and age-appropriate way. Watching the movie was a great way to discuss the topic and share ideas and experiences with other carers. I really enjoyed it.”
If this has inspired you to become a foster carer, please contact us today.