Claudine (1974), directed by John Berry is a movie about a hardworking single mother and her six children who are living on welfare. Between being a working woman, a mother, and a lover all at the same time, Claudine is torn. When she begins seeing a man, Rupert, whom she has to hide from the government, Claudine falls for this man and they both need to make decisions about each other based on finances and welfare.
This movie really opened my eyes to all the struggles and true reality that families who live on welfare and in poverty go through.
Claudine certainly made me question the laws the government enforces. I was completely shocked while watching this movie because I had no idea that gifts are taken out of a welfare check. This is something I found absolutely ridiculous. Knowing this, not only did I feel bad for Claudine because she had to hide everything she received from Rupert, which came from the trash anyway, but I also felt bad for her children. I could not imagine being a young child and having to hide gifts or not be able to feel proud of something new (used) because it would decrease the amount of money they received for living. I do not understand this because they are gifts; it is not like Claudine was spending her welfare check on useless items. Nevertheless, I suppose the Claudine has no way of proving that they were gifts and that she did not go out and buy them herself. Something else I found shocking was that the social worker was concerned that she was seeing a man. So much so that she had someone in the neighborhood keeping track of all of her actions. Again I thought this was absurd because I did not understand why it is any of the governments business of whom she sees. Her love life should not be up to the government and she should not have to explain herself to anyone. Nonetheless, I suppose this is what happens when you are “married to Mr. Welfare.” Claudine did not want to live in poverty but the laws of welfare made it almost impossible for her to get off of it. Even with welfare, Claudine was not able to support her family and therefore had to work for a wealthy white family under the table, because the moment she made a little extra money all her benefits would get cut off. When the social worker checked in on Claudine, she had to lie to the government about working because that money would be deducted from her welfare check or she would be accused of fraud because it is considered cheating the system. This is something that tore my heart. It seems when you are on welfare you cannot even try to do better for yourself or your family. You cannot try to stand on your own two feet with a little assistance because the moment you make an extra dime you get cut off from your aid. In my opinion, I feel like there should be a grace period in which you can receive assistance
This movie really opened my eyes to all the struggles and true reality that families who live on welfare and in poverty go through.
Claudine certainly made me question the laws the government enforces. I was completely shocked while watching this movie because I had no idea that gifts are taken out of a welfare check. This is something I found absolutely ridiculous. Knowing this, not only did I feel bad for Claudine because she had to hide everything she received from Rupert, which came from the trash anyway, but I also felt bad for her children. I could not imagine being a young child and having to hide gifts or not be able to feel proud of something new (used) because it would decrease the amount of money they received for living. I do not understand this because they are gifts; it is not like Claudine was spending her welfare check on useless items. Nevertheless, I suppose the Claudine has no way of proving that they were gifts and that she did not go out and buy them herself. Something else I found shocking was that the social worker was concerned that she was seeing a man. So much so that she had someone in the neighborhood keeping track of all of her actions. Again I thought this was absurd because I did not understand why it is any of the governments business of whom she sees. Her love life should not be up to the government and she should not have to explain herself to anyone. Nonetheless, I suppose this is what happens when you are “married to Mr. Welfare.” Claudine did not want to live in poverty but the laws of welfare made it almost impossible for her to get off of it. Even with welfare, Claudine was not able to support her family and therefore had to work for a wealthy white family under the table, because the moment she made a little extra money all her benefits would get cut off. When the social worker checked in on Claudine, she had to lie to the government about working because that money would be deducted from her welfare check or she would be accused of fraud because it is considered cheating the system. This is something that tore my heart. It seems when you are on welfare you cannot even try to do better for yourself or your family. You cannot try to stand on your own two feet with a little assistance because the moment you make an extra dime you get cut off from your aid. In my opinion, I feel like there should be a grace period in which you can receive assistance