Product Details

• Actors: Sissy Spacek, Alfre Woodard, Jodelle Ferland
• Format: Color, Collector's Edition, NTSC
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Run Time: 98 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0010WDQQM
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #26,952 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Having run away from a succession of foster homes, a 12-year-old girl resorts to desperate measures to stay with the eccentric retired teacher who's made her feel like she's finally in the place where she belongs. Stars Sissy Spacek, Alfre Woodard, Judith Ivey, James Tupper, Jodelle Ferland

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spacek does it again, October 30, 2009

By 

J. Olsen (UT, United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pictures of Hollis Woods - Hallmark Hall of Fame (DVD)

Sissy Spacek is incredible in this movie portraying a woman who is an artist and has also opened her home to foster children over the years. This time she takes in a girl, Hollis Woods, who is also an artist and has been shuffled from place to place over the years. She is a hard nut to crack, but through art and patience and love a relationship of trust finally develops. But all is not well--Spacek's character is forgetting simple things and it becomes evident that she is suffering from dementia. Throughout the movie there have been flashback scenes of Hollis' previous family where she was very happy. She had spent a summer with them at their cabin, but she took upon herself the blame for an accident which reinforced a feeling she had that she brings bad things to others. Unable to cope with that, she ran away from them. Now, as she sees that she will be separated again from someone to whom she has become attached, she takes the confused woman with her to that family's summer cabin in the dead of winter, where there is no food and no phone.
There is a very heartwarming ending, which happens to take place at Christmastime, so this can be a great movie to watch with family during the holidays.
When I heard about the movie's storyline I thought it sounded too sad and I wasn't sure I wanted to see it, but having seen it, I would highly recommend it as a positive movie experience.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, substantive movie..., June 9, 2008

By 

Learning All The Time "It's Never Too Late to... (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Pictures of Hollis Woods - Hallmark Hall of Fame (DVD)

What a beautiful, profoundly touching movie. The first time I watched it by myself, and I was just blown away by the storyline, the gorgeous setting (it looks like New England), and the outstanding performances from the three main actresses (Sissy Spacek, Alfie Woodard, and Jodelle Ferland).

While it raises some pretty tough issues - child abandonment, the foster care system, and Alzheimer's Disease, it does so in a sensitive way. These issues are not glossed over, but the redemptive power of love works its magic.

The second time, I watched the movie with my children (10, 8, 5), and was overjoyed by their compassionate response. They were completely drawn into the world of Hollis Woods(Ferland), a sullen 12 year old girl with an artistic bent. They rooted for her and watched her blossom in the company of Josie (Spacek), a lively artist who is slowly succumbing to devastating dementia/Alzheimer's Disease. They shared Hollis's dawning fear as they realized there was something wrong with Josie, and that she might not be able to take care of Hollis.

The movie put a face on some hard truths, but in a hopeful way. Not everyone has parents who love them. Some children are unhappy and angry for some pretty profound reasons. And people we love may lose their memories when they are old.

Yet Josie's resilience in the face of her experiences, and her ability to learn to love, and accept love, from the decent and kind people that intersect her life is a great message for kids to carry with them. Life can be hard, but there are almost always people who are willing to help, if you can reach out to them. And, a passion for something, such as art and nature, can help you get through dry spells.

The story of Josie and Hollis is interlaced with flashbacks to the family Hollis lived with before she moved in with Josie. Hollis allows herself to fall in love with them, as they joyfully love and welcome her into their family. But a horrible accident makes things fall apart, and that is when Hollis ends up in Josie's life.

Everything comes full circle at the end as Josie's worsening memory/behavior ends up reuniting Hollis with the family that still longs for her to join them.

Anyway, my kids and I spent over an hour talking about this substantive and rewarding movie. A++

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A subtle masterpiece, December 13, 2007

By 

Pete Shea (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pictures of Hollis Woods - Hallmark Hall of Fame (DVD)

Sissy Spacek is outstanding in this excellent adaptation of the award-winning book. Worthy of the Hall of Fame title!