By 
“SHORT TERM 12” ***
What is going on in the world? Why the young generation looks so weary and lost? Who is to blame in this modern time, where technology and immorality reign over many souls? Will there be a light at the end of the journey for those living into darkness?
A group of youngsters discuss their daily duties outside a foster-care facility for troubled kids. As they wrap up the short break, one of the children has a breakdown, reminding them of their role to provide reconstruction to those little souls. During the sunny season, many films have been depicting troubled kids dealing with their own dilemmas, while painting a live portrait of the evolution of the new generation and its most deep characteristics. With this courageous independent film, awarded at the Locarno Film Festival, Cinema seems to be doing a satisfying job at portraying the faces of hope for the future.
Although the atmosphere here is completely sad, discussing violence, abuse, rejection and suicide, all involving children, the delicate and compassionate look of writer/director Destin Cretton captures an illuminated string of hope for the characters. Brie Larson is a revelation as Grace, the protagonist who struggles for the kids’ safety and is also in process of figuring out her relationship with a co-worker and her unexpectedly pregnancy. Perhaps that’s the reason she’s called Grace, because all of them need to find this element to revive. Her determination is the main key, and strength of the film, reflected on her position of saving those kids and getting them ready for society. The despair of a rebel new girl avoided by her father, the fish lover who raps about his conflicted relation with his abusive mother, the sarcasm of a Latino kid who puts up efforts to forget reality, and all the hopelessness expressed in their eyes are extremely heartbreaking, making it an accurate and painful perspective of the unfair facts that strike young children.
The film makes us wonder all those questions started in this review, as an examination of the family crisis and how it is severely affecting and putting in risk the main players of the future.
Director Cretton coordinates the performances amazingly, exploring their troubled emotions and distress, without being exploitative. And that’s a goal for the genre, which avoids scandalizing, preferring to diagnosis the problem and try to solve it, for everyone’s sake. The film is a brilliantly crafted punch in the stomach, a wide call for understanding the young generation’s battles and helping them survive the messy world.
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