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SYNOPSIS:
In 1964, Dr. David Henry (Dermot Mulroney) separated his daughter
from her twin brother to hide the daughter's Down Syndrome
from his wife. Entrusting the baby to a nurse (Emily Watson),
David cut off all contact to focus on his wife (Gretchen Mol)and
his son. Over the next 25 years, his disabled daughter grows
into a beautiful adult while David watches the rest of his
family fall apart, knowing he can never reveal his darkest
secret.
MOVIE
REVIEW
You know things are going to get melodramatic when
a story spans over 25 years. It’s probably going to
involve heartbreaking tragedies, dark secrets and all things
cheerless. Throw in a character who is intellectually disabled,
and you are on your way to creating a tearjerker that will
make the more vulnerable viewer whip out those tissue papers.
A plot is usually adapted from a novel. And probably a bestseller
too.
Based
on American author Kim Edward’s novel of the same name,
the story begins on a snowy winter night in 1964, a doctor
rushes his pregnant wife to the hospital and she gives birth
to twins, a boy and to his horror, a girl who has Down syndrome.
Fearing that his wife cannot take the bad news, he asks a
nurse to take care of the girl. This sets up a superb plot
development for the next 25 years - The two children grow
up in different families, not knowing of each other’s
presence, while the adults live in misery about the terrible
deed committed 25 years ago.
This
made for television movie was broadcast in America earlier
in April this year, and the first thing that will attract
viewers is its solid cast. Dermot Mulroney (The Family Stone,
Zodiac) plays the father who lives in guilt for what he has
done to his daughter. Emily Watson (The Water Horse, Miss
Potter) plays the kind hearted nurse who takes in the girl
with Down syndrome. Gretchen Mol (3:10 To Yuma) plays the
mother who loses a daughter without her knowledge.
But
the real scene stealer here is Krystal Hope Nausbaun, an actress
with Down syndrome who plays the titular character. This is
where you know those who are easily affected emotionally will
feel for this girl, and be moved by every scene she appears
in. Her heartfelt presence can move the film single handedly
and the performance warranties recognition.
This
89 minute television movie directed by Mick Jackson will probably
appeal to female viewers more because of its melodramatic
element. Guys will probably find it too predictable, too mushy
and too sappy for their liking. The constant use of sentimental
music and soft photo montages may even be a test of patience
to the more intolerant viewer. But hey, not everyone is a
fan of loud explosions and hard hitting car chases –
every once in a while, we are supposed to get in touch with
our senses and get all schmaltzy over the melodramatic tragedies
that, well, more often than not, happen in novels and movies.
SPECIAL FEATURES :
This Code 3 DVD contains Previews of
other Sony releases like The Note, Fireproof and This Christmas.
AUDIO/VISUAL:
The
disc’s visual transfer does justice to the film’s
sentimentally soft focused scenes, while there are English,
Portuguese, Spanish and Thai 5.1 Dolby Digital audio tracks
to choose from.
MOVIE RATING:
DVD
RATING :
Review
by John Li
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