Customer Reviews

The Memory Keeper's Daughter

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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

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.

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!

Like many other reviewers here, I loved the book and was anticipating the screen adaptation. To my utter disappointment, this Lifetime movie version was just a hack job, and did a complete disservice to the wonderful work in was adapted from.

The movie leaves out major characters and plot threads, and made me feel like I was watching a disjointed movie. That is what this movie is - disjointed and confusing. There is no real character development and because so much of the original novel has been deleted or changed, we are left with unanswered questions and puzzlement as to why some characters behave the way they do.

I would recommend reading the book first and if you like it, then you'd probably want to skip this poor excuse of an adaptation. I hope someone will eventually give the novel the right cinematic treatment it deserves.

I was very disappointed with this movie. The mayor characters were left out, the portrayed characters were not developed enough for me to connect in the same way (or similar) when reading the book (which is brilliant, btw), the movie plot was even changed! Don't bother with this movie, it would only waste your time!

*** 2008. A TV movie directed by Mick Jackson, the director of The Bodyguard (Special Edition) and Volcano. Emmy award nomination in the Outstanding Made for Television Movie category. Dr. David Henry decides to abandon his newly born daughter suffering from the Down syndrome. I didn't read Kim Edwards's The Memory Keeper's Daughter so I'm unable to compare this teleplay with the novel. What I liked the most in it was the performance of the actresses; Gretchen Mol and above all Emily Watson give outstanding performances that should lead you to see at last once this film. Once is enough if you don't have a personal interest in this peculiar subject. A DVD zone rental only.

This movie is sooooooooo good! I was hooked from the very beginning. I didn't realize this was a made for TV movie for lifetime. Now, I am really impressed. The acting is exceptional. The actress that played the nurse was the best. I just borrowed this movie from the library and am so glad that I did. I have never come across a story like this one. I'd definitely recommend to others. It was the perfect pace, never slow or boring, and the ending is just beautiful. My favorite scene is when the little girl is watching her brother play music.

This movie is based on the novel by Kim Edwards of the same title. The story is set in the 1960s and involves a doctor, David Henry, whose wife, Norah, goes into labour during a snowstorm. Unable to get to the hospital, he takes her to his surgery, where his nurse, Caroline Gil, assists with the birth. Norah delivers twins, a boy, Paul, and a girl, Phoebe: the boy is perfect, the girl is obviously mongoloid. Convinced that his wife will be unable to cope with their daughter's disability, he tells Caroline to take Phoebe to a children's home, and later tells his wife the baby did not survive. Caroline, unable to bring herself to leave Phoebe as instructed, takes her away to another town and decides to bring her up as her own daughter. This is a very moving tale, which loses none of its impact by being made into a movie. Whilst a movie can never totally encompass a book's content, the movie plot is quite faithful to the book. Casting is excellent, especially Emily Watson as Caroline and Krytsal Hope Nausbaum as Phoebe.

No need to stress the point further as I think the other reviewers have done a good job. Same; I have read the novel and was really compelled and fixed on it as soon as I started getting deeper into it. The movie was indeed terrible, and left out SO many crucial key points in the book that led to the [unsettled or not] conclusions at the ending. Actors were okay, but the way the plot was laid out; ugh!

Not worth it. Rent it from a library or something, but read the book first. So please buy the book and support the author instead of contributing to the movie industry that made an award winning book a mess.

It's a excellent movie It's a must see It explains how important family is to people. It explains how important babies are no what didabilities they have.