The Sweetest Gift (1998)

Synopsis
Stuart Margolin, who won an Emmy Award for his work on the TV series The Rockford Files (1979-80 season), directed this film for children. The Sweetest Gift takes place in a region of Southern Florida where racial conflict makes peaceful co-existence almost impossible. This story portrays two families living on the fringes of society, one black and the other one white. The white family, The Martins, consist of a mother and three children whose father left them a few years ago. They have to work hard to make ends meet, and to top it all off their goat has run away. They eventually find their goat in on neighbor's farm, which is owned by the black family, The Wilsons. Local customs dictate that white families do not go near black families, but all that changes when the children start to warm up to each other. However, Mrs. Martin is not so happy at first about these new developments. The story has a good moral value and it is supported by convincing acting by well-known Canadian actress Helen Shaver as Mrs. Martin. Screened at the Children's Film Festival of the 49th International Berlin Film Festival, 1999. ~ Gönül Dönmez-Colin, All Movie Guide