Posted March 20, 2022 in Articles
When Lan learns her nine-year-old daughter Meimei has dyslexia, she will stop at nothing to help her—including leaving her country behind and venturing to New York City, all without speaking a word of English.
In anticipation of our upcoming virtual community screening of Confetti on April 6, Lawrence School Psychologist Ruth McLaughlin shares her thoughts on the film:
As a school psychologist, I am honored to guide Lawrence families through the maze of decisions that make up the ETR, IEP, and Jon Peterson Scholarship processes. It is these experiences that form the lens through which I viewed this touching film:
Confetti is the chronicle of a parent’s love and devotion for their child. A beautiful and personal look into the life of a mother as she discovers her child is dyslexic, the film embraces the wealth of emotions often associated with this time. This is a story that gives feeling and context to the discussion of students’ distinctive needs, including the occasional clinical and cold approach some families encounter.
Beginning in China, Confetti shows Lan desperately searching for an educational environment where her 9-year-old daughter, Meimei, can grow and thrive. The journey leads them to New York City, where they are met with seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Confetti shines light on Lan’s sacrifices and struggles. Her portrayal may strike a familiar chord with many Lawrence parents who also had to make difficult decisions in favor of what was best for their child.
Throughout the film, I found it hard to refrain from talking out loud to the characters on my screen. I wished I could correct their assumptions. I wanted to advise Lan and Meimei and protect them from the pain that so often surround children with exceptional learning styles. Initially, Lan listened to teachers in her small Chinese town who told her something was wrong with Meimei. However, we know the truth was that the teachers simply didn’t have the knowledge or the tools to meet Meimei’s educational needs. The failure was not on the child but on the system itself.
The American school in the film reminded me much of Lawrence. We both provide students with exactly what they need to succeed in the classroom and rather than change the child to work with the methods, we change the methods to work with the child.
Keep your tissues handy while watching Confetti, and be prepared to fall in love with this family. I truly believe it’s a movie that should be required viewing for everyone involved in any facet of education.