Product Details

• Actors: Emily Watson, Dermot Mulroney, Gretchen Mol, Krystal Hope Nausbaum, Hugh Thompson
• Directors: Mick Jackson
• Writers: John Pielmeier, Kim Edwards
• Producers: Howard Braunstein, Michael Jaffe, Michael Mahoney
• Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English, Spanish, Thai, Portuguese
• Subtitles: English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Thai
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: October 7, 2008
• Run Time: 89 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B001D7T6AY
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #12,197 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "The Memory Keeper's Daughter" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

MEMORY KEEPER'S DAUGHTER - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars 'In Camera', October 12, 2008

By 

Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Memory Keeper's Daughter (DVD)

THE MEMORY KEEPER'S DAUGHTER in the form of a novel by Kim Edwards was a highly successful bestseller and probably was featured in more reading groups than any other novel during its circulation. So what happened when the novel became a made-for-television movie? Perhaps it is the below mediocre screenplay (oops!, teleplay!) by John Pielmeier that consistently galumphs along in an awkward pedestrian fashion removing all sense of credibility to the story. Perhaps it is the cut and paste direction by Mick Jackson that misses the pacing and character delineation. Perhaps it suffers from the cinematography of an uncredited source or the 'liquid tears' musical score by Daniel Licht. For whatever of these (or all of these) reasons, this novel-to-film survives because it does make a good case for educating the public about the capabilities of those born with Down Syndrome. And for that it is worthy of attention.

Dr. David Henry (Dermot Mulroney), a successful orthopedic doctor, is married to the beautiful Norah (Gretchen Mol) and their lives are becoming changed by their pregnancy. On a stormy winter night in Kentucky Norah goes into labor and the Henry's rush to a nearby clinic where David delivers his wife (the doctor is caught in a snowstorm) with the assistance of his old friend, nurse Caroline Gill (Emily Watson). After the delivery of a perfect boy child (Paul) Norah continues to be in labor and (surprisingly...) delivers an unexpected (!) twin girl. David and Caroline immediately recognize that the little girl (Phoebe) is a 'mongoloid' (this is before the use of the term Down Syndrome) and David, having a history of losing a little sister because of a birth defect) decides to send Phoebe to an asylum for the mentally challenged: Caroline is to make the delivery and Norah is told the second twin died at birth.

Caroline follows instructions, sees the conditions of the 'home' where Phoebe is to be deposited, shrinks in horror, and decides to keep the child. Aided by a friendly trucker, Caroline changes her solitary existence and mothers Phoebe, finding a new life in her trucker's Pittsburgh. Norah insists on a formal funeral for Phoebe - a fact that deeply disturbs David's psyche, and the Henry's life goes on with only the one child Paul, leaving submerged pains about the lack of Phoebe's presence. Norah gifts David with a camera ('peoples lives are like a camera, that's where they live - in a room captured by a moment') and David becomes obsessed with photography. Norah grieves, drinks, and loses David's attention, while David traces Phoebe's existence with Caroline - sending money and letters to Pittsburgh. Paul (Tyler Stentiford to Jamie Spilchuk) grows up, discovers his mother's infidelities and is angered about his father's lack of communication and understanding, and decides to fulfill his goal of becoming a musician, and off to Juilliard he goes. Meanwhile Phoebe (Krystal Hope Nausbaum) has matured into a very highly adapted young girl, and the manner in which the broken marriage of the Henrys happens and the healing atmosphere of Phoebe's and Paul's lives coupled with the courage that has supported Caroline Gill's struggle to gain acceptance in the world for those born with Down Syndrome forms the conclusion of the film.

The cast of well-known actors tries hard, but only Emily Watson is able to resurrect a credible character from this squishy script. Jamie Spilchuk gives evidence of a young actor with much promise. Dermot Mulroney and Gretchen find it difficult to mold empathetic characters form the corny lines they are given to deliver. The film is a mess, but the message about acceptance of Down Syndrome children and adults is an important one. Grady Harp, October 08

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Copared to other "made for TV" movies...The Memory Keepers Daughter is, December 31, 2008

By 

Barb G (Central NY, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Memory Keeper's Daughter (DVD)

Others told the plot so I won't go there.

I never read the book, but because of the poor reviews here, I will. However,I just watched this for the second time on TV and loved it (again).Yes, it's "cheesey" as one other reviewer put it but no more so than many,many other made for TV movies.I like "cheesey" or as I'd rather say "sappy".I'm not looking for a blockbuster of a movie on Lifetime. It's the type of movie you'd expect from them.I did have a few tears run down my cheek at the end.( sappy )If you're looking for a great production...look elsewhere but if you want the type of movie Lifetime puts out....go for it. I didn't have any trouble following along having not read the book.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Shameful representation of the book., September 16, 2008

By 

A. Woodward (New Mexico) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Memory Keeper's Daughter (DVD)

If you've read the book first, don't waste your time watching the movie because you will be sorely disappointed. The director has left out characters from the book and key parts of the story, leaving the movie a mess and hard to follow. I liked the book, but anyone who watches this is certainly not going to be pused to read it. It's the worst case of book to movie I've ever seen!