The Importance of Connection and Identity: A Review of Geographies of Kinship

Adult adoptees are often impacted by their adoption. Impacts can be related to grief and loss and stigma. International adoptees have an added layer of impact due to the loss of culture and identity of their birth country. This article reviews the documentary, Geographies of Kinship, which follows four Korean adult adoptees' stories and provides a history of international adoption in Korea. A brief review of the documentary is provided followed by the identification of adoption-related themes in the documentary such as curiosity, identity, and reconnection. Implications for mental health workers who provide services to adult adoptees are discussed such as using a both/and perspective and providing support when adoptees search for answers. The use of this film for cinetherapy is also discussed.