Who Are the Debolts? - And Where Did They Get Nineteen Kids?

Plot Summary

An Academy Award® winner for Best Documentary Feature and wildly acclaimed upon its initial release, Who Are the Debolts? takes an intimate peek into the world of one extraordinary family that tackles adversity with compassion, joy, and perseverance. Not only do parents Bob and Dorothy have six kids from previous marriages, they have also opened up their hearts and home to thirteen disadvantaged and handicapped children. What results is an amazing mix of diversity: they've taken in victims of the Vietnam War, a blind American boy, and a black girl born without limbs. Never sentimental, the film treats this multiethnic cast of kids as heroes who belie the stereotype of the handicapped. They go to school, do chores, and "hang out" while simultaneously navigating the difficulties of their disabilities. The story continues with the follow-up film Steppin' Out With the Debolts, catching up with the family five years later as the kids grapple with adolescence. Director John Korty skillfully captures the boundless possibility of the individual human will and the importance of family and friendship. Who Are the Debolts? is a classic that stands the test of time with its joyous, uplifting message.