Sorry, this item is not available in
Image not available for
Color:
Image not available

To view this video download Flash Player

 

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
Sell Us Your Item
For up to a $2.45 Gift Card
Trade in
More Buying Choices
Have one to sell? Sell yours here

My Flesh and Blood (2004)

Susan Tom , Anthony Tom , Jonathan Karsh  |  Unrated |  DVD
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)

List Price: $26.95
Price: $14.49 & FREE Shipping on orders over $25. Details
You Save: $12.46 (46%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
Only 5 left in stock (more on the way).
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.
Want it tomorrow, May 24? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details
"Star Trek Into Darkness" Available for Pre-order on Blu-ray and DVD
From director J.J. Abrams comes the next installment in the Star Trek saga, Star Trek Into Darkness. See it at Cinemark theaters now and pre-order on Blu-ray, 3D Blu-ray, DVD, and the Exclusive Starfleet Phaser Gift Set. Shop Star Trek Into Darkness and more in the Star Trek Store. Learn more

Frequently Bought Together

My Flesh and Blood + Emmanuel's Gift
Price for both: $20.19

Buy the selected items together
  • Emmanuel's Gift $5.70

What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?


Product Details

  • Actors: Susan Tom, Anthony Tom, Faith Tom, Joe Tom, Margaret Tom
  • Directors: Jonathan Karsh
  • Producers: Jennifer Chaiken
  • Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC
  • Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
  • Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Rated: Unrated
  • Studio: New Video Group
  • DVD Release Date: November 30, 2004
  • Run Time: 83 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B0003JAO8Q
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #64,782 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
  • Learn more about "My Flesh and Blood" on IMDb

Special Features

  • Deleted scenes
  • Additional interviews
  • Follow-up interviews
  • Behind the scenes
  • Theatrical trailer
  • Filmmaker biographies

Editorial Reviews

Winner of the Audience and Director’s Awards at the Sundance Film Festival, the deeply affecting MY FLESH AND BLOOD follows one remarkable family’s most tumultuous year as it confronts a litany of daily routines, celebrates life’s small pleasures, and copes with major crises. Who says you can’t choose your family? "I think when I found that I could survive raising four kids, that it wasn’t that far of a leap to add another one," says Susan Tom of Fairfield, California, who has done more than just that, adopting 11 special needs children. For a single mother who receives only limited help from the state, Susan gives her kids love, hope, and as close to a normal childhood has possible. Her limits are tested, however, when her angry teenage son threatens one of his siblings. And after another child’s condition becomes erratic, the entire family learns that living for the moment is the keystone to happiness. Tenderly directed by Jonathan Karsh, MY FLESH AND BLOOD presents a family portrait like no other--a bittersweet and unforgettable experience filled with unexpected humor, stirring pathos, and an optimistic view towards morality.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Empowering December 4, 2004
Format:DVD
I am an avid documentary viewer and this is by far the MOST moving documentary I have ever seen. The filmmaker was given one year (no more, no less) to record the events of a most extraordinary family. Susan Tom is a single mother who takes care of her own biological and adopted children. Most of the children have a variety of special needs and Susan's strength, intelligence, humor, kindness, empathy, tenacity and flexibility allows her to give each child the attention and parenting they all need and deserve. The family is alarmingly honest and each person in the film moves through an epic struggle. We are so privileged to watch. The family loves, fights, support. Within the year's framework, the filmmaker catches heartbreaking and painful moments. There are also many joyous moments. The film stays with the viewer- dare I say- forever. I am a parent of a autistic son, and I have often felt alone in my struggle to make life the best it can be for him. The world can easily judge, can easily misunderstand. Without my advocacy I know my son would not be as secure and happy as he is today. In Susan Tom, I have found a personal hero- a woman who is beautiful and intelligent and a master at her job. Thank you to the whole Tom family (and to the filmmakers) for giving the world a glimpse. I wish you all the best. You touched us so deeply- Joe, Anthony etc.
PS. My daughter and I cried deeply- make sure to have kleenex handy when viewing. Film's official website:
http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/flesh_and_blood/
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
17 of 19 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars When is Love Giving and When Is It Taking? July 31, 2005
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This compelling, heart-breaking documentary shows a lonely single mother who adopts more and more children with special needs and lives in a constant state of being overwhelmed. The film asks the question: At what point does giving become a need that reaches a point of no return. For example, the mother's biological daughter cries in anguish when she realizes her life is about helping her mother care for the adopted children while her own needs are left ignored. The film offers no easy answers. Nor does the film paint the mother in a simple light. She is a complex woman full of complex motivations for adopting more than a dozen children. The filmaker is sympathetic and offers no judgments. He simply allows us to struggle with making our own conclusions. The children are presented in a noncondescending light. They are loveable survivors. One twelve-year-old boy however is severely angry, largely in part because his biological mother abandoned him when his health problems became too difficult, and he shows that he is a danger to the other children. He talks freely about wanting to kill them. His anger combined with his need to be loved puts the mother and the rest of the family in their biggest dilemma and is a major focus of this excellent documentary about a family that out of their daily crises grow a profound love for each other.
Was this review helpful to you?
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Too much to say; too good to miss! November 17, 2005
Format:DVD
There are so many good things I could say about this movie. It's almost hard to know where to begin.

At first, you get the impression that Sue Tom (The Mom and "a woman of a certain weight"), is so desperate for companionship that she creates her own brood by adopting special needs children. But not 15 minutes into the documentary you realize, this woman was *born* to be a Mom and is a gifted, patient, hyper-intelligent and compassionate soul.

Then you realize how blessed these children are to have found someone willing and able to not only be their mom, but to love them unconditionally and raise them to be happy, mentally-healthy and perspicacious adults.

And then there's the issue of the children. The first time I saw "Faith" (the little girl who was so badly burned) appear on screen, I had to close my eyes. Her physical appearance was very severe. But before the movie was half over, I found myself falling in love with this precious and precocious little girl. She's got a sweet nature and a wisdom that belies her age. Close your eyes and listen to her voice and you'll hear an angelic voice laced with a tenderness and thoughtfulness that is soul-stirring.

And the ending is stunning. I'm still thinking about the ending.

This documentary has changed the way I view the world and view others and think about myself. If I were queen of the world I'd sit everyone down one Sunday night and make them all (all six billion of us small-minded earthlings) watch this movie.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Heartbreaking
This one is not for the faint of heart...you have been warned! This is the story of Susan Tom and her 13 children. The children are all of different abilities. Read more
Published 2 months ago by TFSD75
5.0 out of 5 stars great documentary
had to see it for a class in college and it was inspiring and sad at the same time. must see
Published 2 months ago by Renee' Taylor
5.0 out of 5 stars Heartbreaking
I bought this film, but it is so heartbreaking to watch. I have only watched it once. If you do not cry like a little baby at the end, you have no soul.
Published 4 months ago by L. Seraaj
4.0 out of 5 stars Moving but felt unfinished
I'm struggling to find the same enthusiasm for the movie as others have. I just watched it last night and while I found it a moving documentary, I wasn't very satisfied with it as... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Em
4.0 out of 5 stars dvd movie
It's a good movie but it is sad. I'd watch it more than once. It was good enough I bought one for a birthday gift. My mother watched it 5 times. So I had to buy myself one.
Published 21 months ago by Felicia Martin
1.0 out of 5 stars Disturbing and dysfunctional
I felt very skeptical about Susan Tom's ability as a mother and both my husband and I wondered about her motives. Read more
Published 24 months ago by Sam
5.0 out of 5 stars Best Documentary I Have Ever Seen
I always read reviews but never write them, but I feel very strongly that everyone should see this film, and so here I am writing my own review. Read more
Published on February 2, 2011 by A. Ryan
5.0 out of 5 stars one hundred percent engaging
My Flesh And Blood is an outstanding documentary that showcases one year in the lives of a woman and her adopted disabled children. Read more
Published on June 19, 2009 by Matthew G. Sherwin
5.0 out of 5 stars These are amazing people we get to learn about
I am thankful for people like those featured in My Flesh and Blood and for those that give us the opportunity to learn about them in films like this. Read more
Published on April 28, 2009 by Paul A. Spangler
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, emotional
Suprisingly good & original documentary about a foster mother who takes in children with special needs. Nothing is held back, and there is a tear-jerking moment. Read more
Published on January 2, 2008 by M. Kline
Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought


Forums

There are no discussions about this product yet.
Be the first to discuss this product with the community.
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 



Look for Similar Items by Category