Mercy Mercy: A Portrait of a True Adoption (2012)

Mercy Mercy: A Portrait of a True Adoption is a 2012 Danish documentary about an intercountry, transracial adoption from Ethiopia to Denmark. It follows two siblings and both their families across several years, exposing ethical failures in the international adoption system and the human cost of secrecy, poverty and unequal power.

This film touches on concerns about the international pipeline and the aftermath for both families, following the post-placement challenges after the painful outcomes for each child. It’s been widely received as quite controversial and an uncomfortable watch that documents the real risks when intercountry adoption systems fail children and families.

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