Heartwrenching tale of adoption gone awry

SOME years back, I happened upon The Curious Case of Natalia Grace, a documentary about a Ukrainian girl who was adopted by an American family, only to be abandoned two years later.

- DEBASHINE THANGEVELO

There was nothing ordinary about this story, as there was uncertainty around Natalia’s real age. Suffering from spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita, a rare form of dwarfism, she looked much younger than certain physiological changes that were observed by her adopted mom.

However, Natalia’s behaviour presented as a little girl prone to tantrums.

Disney+ has revisited this true-life story in an eight-part dramatised series.

The narrative is drawn from allegations, court proceedings, as well as what has been publicly reported on the story.

Of course, some creative liberties have been taken to ensure it’s an engaging story.

The writers employed a Rashomon-style narrative, intentionally creating a polarised viewer perception of Natalia.

The first episode opens with Kristine Barnett (Ellen Pompeo), Natalia’s (Imogen Faith Reid) adoptive mother and a celebrated author on raising children with autism.

What started out as Kristine wanting to be a good mother and helping children, including those she adopted, somehow goes pearshaped.