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GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — When Peter and Marilyn Robinson began planning their vacation to China in fall 2007, their middle daughter Sofia surprised them by announcing she wanted to search for her birth parents while they were there.
Marilyn Robinson quickly went to work searching the Internet where she met acclaimed filmmaker and University of Pennsylvania professor Dr. Changfu Chang who has spent the last 10 years writing, producing and directing eight documentaries about adoptive families searching for birth parents in China.
The Robinsons created flyers with a photograph of Sofia as an infant, as well a current photo with a headline that said: “I Lost My Parents in 1995.”
The intention was to grab attention, Robinson said.
The Robinsons had a couple of clues. They knew Sofia had been brought to an orphanage in Xiamen Fujian Province. And there had been a note saying where she was found.
Ironically, the filmmaker had worked in that province and was going to be there the same summer as the Robinsons. Chang helped the Robinsons by translating their materials and getting their story covered in Chinese newspapers, magazines and television.
The heart-rending story of the Robinsons' quest to find Sofia's biological parents was filmed over the course of three years.
“‘Sofia's Journey' is all about our adventure before, there, and after,” Sofia said. “I found a lot, I'm very grateful, and I'm not done yet.”
More than 100,000 Chinese children have been adopted into Western families since the 1990s. Chang's two latest films, “Sofia's Journey” and “Daughter's Return” document the conflicting emotions of such journeys for both the adoptees and their families on both sides.
“Sofia's Journey” focuses a lot on identity, Sofia's “quest for identity, culture and roots,” Robinson said.
“Daughter's Return” is about two girls — Eline from the Netherlands and Ricki from the United States — who reunite with their birth parents in China.
Running time for the two films is approximately 95 minutes, with a 15-minute intermission. Filmmaker Chang will be present to answer questions following the film showings.
Sofia said she hopes the films clear up misunderstandings about the Chinese people.
Chinese law restricts city dwellers to one child, whereas people who live in the rural areas are allowed two children.
Marilyn Robinson quickly went to work searching the Internet where she met acclaimed filmmaker and University of Pennsylvania professor Dr. Changfu Chang who has spent the last 10 years writing, producing and directing eight documentaries about adoptive families searching for birth parents in China.
The Robinsons created flyers with a photograph of Sofia as an infant, as well a current photo with a headline that said: “I Lost My Parents in 1995.”
The intention was to grab attention, Robinson said.
The Robinsons had a couple of clues. They knew Sofia had been brought to an orphanage in Xiamen Fujian Province. And there had been a note saying where she was found.
Ironically, the filmmaker had worked in that province and was going to be there the same summer as the Robinsons. Chang helped the Robinsons by translating their materials and getting their story covered in Chinese newspapers, magazines and television.
The heart-rending story of the Robinsons' quest to find Sofia's biological parents was filmed over the course of three years.
“‘Sofia's Journey' is all about our adventure before, there, and after,” Sofia said. “I found a lot, I'm very grateful, and I'm not done yet.”
More than 100,000 Chinese children have been adopted into Western families since the 1990s. Chang's two latest films, “Sofia's Journey” and “Daughter's Return” document the conflicting emotions of such journeys for both the adoptees and their families on both sides.
“Sofia's Journey” focuses a lot on identity, Sofia's “quest for identity, culture and roots,” Robinson said.
“Daughter's Return” is about two girls — Eline from the Netherlands and Ricki from the United States — who reunite with their birth parents in China.
Running time for the two films is approximately 95 minutes, with a 15-minute intermission. Filmmaker Chang will be present to answer questions following the film showings.
Sofia said she hopes the films clear up misunderstandings about the Chinese people.
Chinese law restricts city dwellers to one child, whereas people who live in the rural areas are allowed two children.
GO&DO
What: ReelTime film screenings of “Daughter's Return” and “Sofia's Journey” with filmmaker Dr. Changfu Chang present
When: 2 p.m., Sat., April 9 Where: The Radio Room, 1310 Ute Ave. Cost: $6/adult; $5/student, senior and KAFM member Info: 241-8801, ext. 223 or kafmradio.org |
