God Bless the Child (film)
Encyclopedia
God Bless the Child is a 1988 film, directed by Lary Elikann. It depicts the struggle of homelessness and the perpetual cycle of poverty and how it affects people, and tells the story of the sacrifices of a single mother, Theresa Johnson (played by Mare Winningham), in hope of a better life for her daughter, Hillary Johnson (played by Grace Johnston).
The Watkins are a poor African-American family who live in a house not much different from Theresa and Hillary. The father of the family (Obba Babatundé) abandoned the house long ago and doesn't pay child-support. The family receives welfare but can't afford anything other than necessities, and goes hungry during the "fourth week," or the end of the month when most families have run out of food stamps. The son, Richard Watkins (Mos Def), hopes to break the cycle of poverty that has plagued their family, by being the first person in their family to graduate from High-School.
The story returns to Theresa, who has just been evicted from her house by her confrontational landlord, after reporting the state of her house and the rat infestation to the Department of Health. Theresa and Hillary stay in the shelters once again, then Hillary contracts lead-poisoning from the poor state of the shelters and lack of sanitation. At the local hospital, Theresa is told by Hillary's doctor that if she contracts lead-poisoning again, it can cause severe health and development problems. Since Theresa and Hillary have been forced to travel between shelters the cause of Hillary's lead-poisoning can't be traced. Because of a lack of a steady home, Theresa cannot guarantee Hillary's safety.
Theresa consults Mr. Reed and concludes that the only way Hillary can live a healthy, normal life, free from poverty, is by giving her up. The only way this can happen immediately is if Hillary is abandoned. Theresa makes the decision to take Hillary to the park and leaves her for Mr. Reed to pick up. Before leaving her, she gives her a heart necklace and tells her that every time she looks at it she should remember that she loves her. When she leaves, Mr. Reed and another social worker take Hillary away, and the story ends with Theresa alone in the park, crying, as Hillary can still be heard crying for her mother.
Before the credits start, the statement "32 million people live in poverty in the United States, today. 13 million of them are children." is shown.
Plot
Theresa Johnson is a single mother, who was abandoned by her husband some time after her daughter, Hillary, was born. The two live in a cramped apartment in the inner-city, within walking distance to Hillary's school and Theresa's workplace. The occupants of the apartment complex Theresa and her daughter live in are all notified of their eviction, as the land is being sold and the apartments are to be demolished. Theresa has nowhere to go. Theresa clocks out of work early to look for a place for her and her daughter to live, but is fired the next day for leaving early. The two go from homeless shelter to homeless shelter, trying to find a place to stay. Often they sleep on the streets. At one shelter Theresa meets outreach worker Calvin Reed (Dorian Harewood), who finds another place for Theresa to stay, while she receives welfare aid. The house is filthy and infested with rats. Theresa and Hillary settle into their new home, and the life of their neighboring family, the Watkins, is explored.The Watkins are a poor African-American family who live in a house not much different from Theresa and Hillary. The father of the family (Obba Babatundé) abandoned the house long ago and doesn't pay child-support. The family receives welfare but can't afford anything other than necessities, and goes hungry during the "fourth week," or the end of the month when most families have run out of food stamps. The son, Richard Watkins (Mos Def), hopes to break the cycle of poverty that has plagued their family, by being the first person in their family to graduate from High-School.
The story returns to Theresa, who has just been evicted from her house by her confrontational landlord, after reporting the state of her house and the rat infestation to the Department of Health. Theresa and Hillary stay in the shelters once again, then Hillary contracts lead-poisoning from the poor state of the shelters and lack of sanitation. At the local hospital, Theresa is told by Hillary's doctor that if she contracts lead-poisoning again, it can cause severe health and development problems. Since Theresa and Hillary have been forced to travel between shelters the cause of Hillary's lead-poisoning can't be traced. Because of a lack of a steady home, Theresa cannot guarantee Hillary's safety.
Theresa consults Mr. Reed and concludes that the only way Hillary can live a healthy, normal life, free from poverty, is by giving her up. The only way this can happen immediately is if Hillary is abandoned. Theresa makes the decision to take Hillary to the park and leaves her for Mr. Reed to pick up. Before leaving her, she gives her a heart necklace and tells her that every time she looks at it she should remember that she loves her. When she leaves, Mr. Reed and another social worker take Hillary away, and the story ends with Theresa alone in the park, crying, as Hillary can still be heard crying for her mother.
Before the credits start, the statement "32 million people live in poverty in the United States, today. 13 million of them are children." is shown.
Cast
- Mare WinninghamMare WinninghamMare Winningham , born Mary Megan Winningham, is an American actress and singer-songwriter. She has been nominated once for an Academy Award, Golden Globe and Drama Desk, 7 times for Emmy Awards , and has also won an Independent Spirit Award and two Screen Actors Guild Award nominations.She is...
as Theresa Johnson - Grace Johnston as Hillary Johnson
- L. Scott CaldwellL. Scott CaldwellLaverne Scott Caldwell is an American actress known for her role as Rose on Lost.This Chicago native started her career in 1978 as a member of the famed Negro Ensemble Company, making her Broadway debut two years later in the Tony Award nominated play Home...
as Althea Watkins - Obba BabatundéObba BabatundeObba Babatundé is an American actor of stage and screen, known for his Emmy-nominated performance in the television movie Miss Evers' Boys, a NAACP Image Award-nominated performance in the TV movie Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, and a Tony Award-nominated role for his performance as C.C...
as Raymond Watkins - Dorian Harewood as Calvin Reed
- Jennifer Leigh Warren as Sharee Watkins
- Davenia McFadden as Kathleen
- Mos DefMos DefDante Terrell Smith is an American actor and Emcee known by the stage names Mos Def and Yasiin Bey. He started his hip hop career in a group called Urban Thermo Dynamics, after which he appeared on albums by Da Bush Babees and De La Soul. With Talib Kweli, he formed the duo Black Star, which...
as Richard Watkins - Jose Soto as Bobby Gifford
- Shawana Kemp as Tracy Watkins
- Charlayne WoodardCharlayne WoodardCharlaine "Charlayne" Woodard is an American film, stage and television actress and playwright. She has written four plays, titled Pretty Fire, Neat, In Real Life, which she starred in, and "Flight"....
as Chandra Watkins - Akuyoe Graham as Charlesletta
- Nicholas Podbrey as Kenny
- Brenda Denmark as Elizabeth
- Kate LynchKate LynchKate Lynch is a Genie Award-winning actress whose career spans four decades. In 1980 she won the Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for Meatballs...
as Carrie