Educational Media Reviews Online

This production, by Eric Kutner, gives us 10 minutes in the life of a developmentally disabled family struggling to get by. Minerva, the mother, and three of her four children have the chromosomal disorder Fragile X, the second leading cause of mental retardation. The fourth child also has developmental and psychological issues. Minerva is doing the very best she can, with the help of a social worker, to keep her children clothed, fed, educated, and give them a safe living environment. It’s an uphill climb, but she tries hard and their love for each other comes through. Expertly shot and edited, this short film is perfect for classroom use. It establishes the issues, and draws the audience emotionally – all in an amazingly short time, with no narration and very little explanatory dialog. An excellent resource for social work, nursing, and psychology students, and a top-of-the-list purchase for college and university libraries supporting these programs.