I really enjoyed watching the different episodes of “the F-word.” I like that it is divided in around 10 minutes episodes and that it is linear, not just focusing on one aspect of the adoption process per episode. We clearly understand that it is a struggle for the couple to adopt a child from foster care and I found it very powerful because we never see them give up and if anything as time goes by they are even more committed to having a child; they are always willing to negotiate and adapt to the situations they are facing. Even though we see a struggle in adopting, I think it is still great for the documentary to include happy stories as well, of the couple visiting other couples who have gone through the same process and it ended in positive outcomes. It plays the role of giving them hope in some way, that what they are going through is worth it. The most powerful/interesting scenes in my opinion is when we really get insights on what the two women think about all the different stepbacks and positive outcomes that are thrown out to them, when they talk about what they’re most excited for and what they fear the most. The videos touch on the idea that was mentioned in the essay “Mirrors without memories”: showing a truth about a subject we might not know about. It really felt like that when watching the episodes. We might think we know a little bit about the process of adopting but actually following a couple’s story is much more powerful and it is though that way that we really learn about a truth we actually knew nothing about. Overall, the episodes not only let us follow a story of a couple but also educates us.
