Emotional drama about fostering kids has intense moments.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Violence & Scariness
some
Allusions to and brief views of domestic violence, including a woman being slapped and shot. Brief scene of children in peril amid gunshots. Descriptions of violence and trauma, such as rape and physical violence. A boy's torso has burn marks from past abuse. Donna spanks Terri after Terri talks back. Donna is grieving the loss of her mother.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.
A negative character smokes. Descriptions of drug use in relation to children being neglected and abused by parents or guardians who are addicted to drugs.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.
Unconditional love is at the root of the film's message, as is the idea that making a difference in a community takes risk and collective support. Strong faith-based messages. Themes also include compassion, courage, empathy, gratitude, humility, integrity, and perseverance.
Positive Role Models
a lot
Donna Martin (Nika King) is inspired to adopt children, particularly those at risk in the community. She then inspires her husband, Rev. WC Martin (Demetrius Grosse), who takes her message to their whole congregation. The community of Possum Trot exhibit selflessness and togetherness and instills hope. Even though they make mistakes, Donna and WC show how loving parents will try to do whatever it takes to protect and support their children. Characters demonstrate compassion, empathy, integrity, courage, and more.
Diverse Representations
a lot
Set in a rural, predominantly Black community in Texas. Characters—who are loving, inspiring, and complex—are largely Black and Latino, with a strong Black woman at the heart of the story. Shows that Black rural life is just as nuanced as urban life. Also shows some of the harsh realities of raising children who've suffered mental and physical trauma. One positive main character, Princeton, has an unspecified disability; he's played by Taj Johnson, who isn't disabled. Director and writers are White, and Black actor Letitia Wright executive-produces.
Parents need to know that Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot is a faith-based drama arising from the true story of a rural East Texas community in which a reverend and his wife inspired the town to adopt 77 at-risk children between 1998 and 2011. The film has strong themes of Christianity, but its focus is more on being charitable, open-hearted, and loving toward those in need than it is on religion. Expect a bit of strong language ("bitch," "hell," exclamatory use of "Lord"), plus several descriptions of and allusions to grief, trauma, and physical and sexual abuse and assault. Violence shown on-screen isn't extensive but includes children in danger, domestic violence that ends in gunshots, and a spanking. There's also smoking and descriptions of drug use. Ultimately, unconditional love is at the root of the film's message, and characters demonstrate compassion, courage, empathy, gratitude, humility, integrity, and perseverance. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
As a parent of three wonderful adopted children, I appreciated how the subject matter wasn’t romanticized, as is often the case in most adoption/foster child films.
This movie is well done, and I highly recommend it. It is very real, the film-makers show a complete picture of what it's like to adopt kids who have come from traumatic situations, both the positive side of adoption and the many difficulties. The overall message is one of unconditional love and hope, but there is serious and disturbing subject matter throughout the film. It can be a great conversation starter for watching with your teenager. I found it appropriate for viewing and discussion with my 13 year old, but depending on the maturity level of your teen it might be better for a 14 or 15 year old.
There are a few things missing from Common Sense Media's review that should be in the "Sex, Romance" category. I was surprised that they didn't list any. A girl who looks to be 12-14 years old goes into a bathroom stall with a boy. The camera then shows the outside of the closed stall as her shirt falls to the ground. The girl is later shown crying alone in the stall. There are also several brief mentions of children being pimped out by their parents.
What's the Story?
SOUND OF HOPE: THE STORY OF POSSUM TROT centers on Donna Martin (Nika King), who loses her mother in 1996 and is overcome with grief. Two years later and still dealing with depression as a result of the loss, Donna's prayer to God leads her to the decision to—through fostering and adoption—follow in the footsteps of her mother, who raised 18 children on her own. Donna's decision soon affects her husband, Reverend WC Martin (Demetrius Grosse), and their entire town of Possum Trot, Texas.
This fact-based drama does more than what many people have come to expect from stereotypical faith-based films. The characters in Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot experience deep grief, high elation, and every emotion in between. And the movie doesn't shy away from showing the messier side of adopting children who've suffered mental and physical trauma. This adds humanity to its message by showing that just because you're doing a "good deed" doesn't mean it will be easy to accomplish—or that you'll be perfect at it. Donna, WC, and the other Possum Trot parents aren't perfect—no parent is—but the film shows how, despite their mistakes, good parents will give their children unconditional love and support, as well as the emotional care they need to flourish.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Sound of Hope's message about children in the foster care system. Is it urging action? If so, what kind?
How do the people in the movie demonstrate character strengths like compassion and humility?
How did grief affect Donna's life? What prompted her decision to adopt? How do she and the people of Possum Trot affect their community through adoption?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
suggesting a diversity update.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Monique Jones
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
