Film Lens
State Owned Children focuses on a cross-border adoption program in post-war Germany that placed thousands of children born during the French occupation. The film follows two women as they seek to understand their origins and the emotional consequences of these adoptions. It examines how families and communities were affected by the war, providing personal narratives that connect past events to contemporary discussions about identity and belonging.
Through the stories of these women, the documentary reveals a lesser-known chapter of history. It addresses the complexities of searching for biological parents and the impact of international adoption, set against the backdrop of the German occupation of France from 1940 to 1944. The film runs for 53 minutes and is produced in Germany and France, with dialogues in German.
Why Watch
- •Follow two women's search for their birth parents.
- •See the impact of post-war adoptions on families.
- •Meet children of the German occupation era.
Did You Know
•Thousands of children were adopted during the French occupation of Germany.
•The documentary follows two women searching for their biological parents.
•The German occupation of France lasted from 1940 to 1944.
Perfect For
Adoption storiesPost-war historyIdentity exploration