Aging Out (Documentary)

 

Picture: B-     Sound: C+     Extras: B     Documentary: B

 

 

Orphans used to be a staple of storytelling and the public awareness was realistic, but since the 1980s, you’d think there were no orphans and everyone was now part of a happy family.  In real life, the situation is as bad and ugly as ever, complicated by issues of rape, incest, abortion, abuse and abandonment.  As a result, many never find a home with the problem of homelessness and orphans never finding families.  Again Out is about three of those tens of thousands who never get adapted and the various challenges they face in the twilight zone between the system and the harsh outside world.

 

It turns out the system can actually have these individuals as part of the system up to age 24!  Why it is not designed to prepare them sooner is atrocious and as things get worse for some of the subjects, the lack of safety net or other active considerations is makes this even harder to watch.  However, it is so riveting, you cannot turn away.  Be sure to catch this one.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 16 x 9/1.78 X 1 image is pretty good for a taped documentary, with more clarity and detail than usual.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo has not surrounds, but is recorded well.  Extras include text about Docurama, trailers for four other Docurama releases, text on producer/director Roger Weisberg and two additional documentaries: Case Closed: Keely Lopez and With No Direction Home.  Both are also strong and add up to a compelling look at a story strangely hidden from the public.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo