Watch Children of Invention

Children of Invention is a 2009 indie drama that follows the struggles of a single mother and her two young children as they attempt to make a life for themselves in suburban Boston. The film, which was written and directed by Tze Chun, stars Cindy Cheung, Michael Chen, and Crystal Chiu. The story centers around Elaine Cheng (Cheung), a struggling single mother who is constantly on the verge of losing her job as a telemarketer. Her husband has recently been arrested for running a Ponzi scheme, leaving Elaine to fend for herself and their two young children, Raymond (Chen) and Tina (Chiu). Despite her struggles, Elaine remains optimistic about the future and is determined to provide a better life for her kids.

Raymond, who is a brilliant inventor, becomes increasingly fascinated with the idea of creating a machine that will generate free electricity. He spends all of his time tinkering with his designs and working on his invention, much to Elaine's frustration. She worries that Raymond is neglecting his schoolwork and that his obsession with the machine is distracting him from more important things.

Meanwhile, Elaine is struggling to make ends meet and is forced to take on odd jobs to make up for the income she's lost since her husband's arrest. All the while, she's trying to keep up appearances and pretending that everything is okay, even as she's hounded by bill collectors and threatened with eviction from their small apartment.

As Elaine's financial situation grows more precarious, she finds herself making some questionable decisions to try and get by. In a moment of desperation, she agrees to be part of an illegal pyramid scheme, thinking that it might be a way to earn some quick cash. However, things quickly spiral out of control as she becomes caught up in the shady dealings of the scheme's organizers.

Throughout all of this, Raymond remains focused on his invention, convinced that it will be the key to their family's success. He enlists his little sister Tina to help him work on the machine, and the two of them spend hours tinkering with wires and circuits. However, as the pressure on Elaine builds, Raymond's obsession with the machine begins to weigh on her, and she starts to worry that it's all a pipe dream.

Children of Invention is a poignant and intimate look at the struggles of one family trying to get by in a world that seems determined to keep them down. The film explores themes of poverty, desperation, and resilience, and does so with a deft hand and a strong sense of empathy. Despite its serious subject matter, there are moments of humor and warmth throughout the film, and its young cast deliver some memorable performances.

At its core, Children of Invention is a story about family, and the lengths that parents will go to in order to provide for their children. It's a film that is sure to resonate with anyone who has experienced financial hardship or the struggle of trying to make ends meet. But more than that, it's a reminder that even in the toughest of times, there is always hope.

Children of Invention is a 2008 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 26 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5 and a MetaScore of 67.