Short Term 12 (2013)

At the start of this movie, my son said, "Is this an indie movie?"  The answer of course was yes, but the question came about not only because of the subject matter (foster kids in a group home setting with therapy and at risk kids), but because of the filming shots and overall style.  It is informal in a way that makes you feel like you are eavesdropping on a conversation happening over a coffee break.
The material within is much grittier than that.  Grace is in a relationship with a fellow coworker, but he notes that he doesn't totally know what is going on, that she is with holding part
of her self from his.  As the film unrolls, amidst the tales of betrayal, abuse and neglect that the kids reveal, we see that she is more like them than she is different.  She gives a lot of herself in her job, but may not have the sufficient barriers build up to prevent her own problems from spilling over into her work.  The catalyst for her unraveling is that her father is soon going to be released from prison, coupled with a young girl she suspects is being abused by her father is released to his custody.  Very true to life, and more funny than I am making it sound.