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Jon Glassberg

(USA)

Dear Mother – A Climber’s Transracial Adoption Story

Climber and transracial Asian-American Cody Kaemmerlen searches for connection with his birth parents after a near-death fall leaves him shaken and grasping for answers. Cody Kaemmerlan is a climber adopted from South Korea in 1984, into rural Tillamook, Oregon. He was raised by a loving family, and thrived in his small town, not fully comprehending what it was like to be a person of colour in a white world. After reaching out to the adoption agency, he was left with an email stating his birth mother had no interest in meeting her son. Starting to experience adversity in adulthood, he struggled with anger, divorce, a car accident and finally a near-death free-soloing fall, which became a catalyst for change. A few years later, the agency reached out with an apology about a file mix-up, stating his birth mother and father would love to meet. Soon after, he begins to process his adoption and identity with the help of the climbing community and close friends. We follow Cody to South Korea on his quest to meet his mother and father in the hope of finding resolution and inner peace.

Language:

Englisch

Category:

Sports in Mountains & Nature

Duration:

41 min

Year:

2023

Director:

Jon Glassberg