My Sister's Keeper
My Sister's Keeper

Movie spotlight

My Sister's Keeper

2009
Movie
109 min
English

Sara and Brian live an idyllic life with their young son and daughter. But their family is rocked by sudden, heartbreaking news that forces them to make a difficult and unorthodox choice in order to save their baby girl's life. The parents' desperate decision raises both ethical and moral questions and rips away at the foundation of their relationship. Their actions ultimately set off a court case that threatens to tear the family apart, while revealing surprising truths that challenge everyone's perceptions of love and loyalty and give new meaning to the definition of healing.

Insights

IMDb6.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes51%
Metacritic52/100
Google Users77%
Director: Nick CassavetesGenres: Drama

Plot Summary

A young girl, Anna Fitzgerald, who was conceived as a perfect match to be a bone marrow donor for her older sister, Kate, who is suffering from leukemia, decides to sue her parents for medical emancipation. Anna seeks to gain control over her own body and make decisions about her health, leading to a profound family crisis. The film explores themes of sacrifice, love, and the complex ethical dilemmas surrounding a child's right to bodily autonomy.

Critical Reception

My Sister's Keeper received a mixed reception from critics, who praised the performances, particularly from Abigail Breslin and Sofia Vassilieva, and the emotional weight of the story. However, many critics found the film melodramatic and criticized its deviations from the source novel, particularly the controversial ending which was changed from the book. Audiences were generally more moved by the film's emotional narrative.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its strong performances, especially from its young lead actresses.

  • The film effectively tackles emotional and ethical themes of sacrifice and family.

  • Criticized for its overly sentimental tone and significant changes from the original novel, particularly the ending.

Google audience: Google users generally found the film to be a powerful and emotional story that tugged at their heartstrings, with many appreciating the performances and the exploration of difficult family dynamics. Some viewers felt the plot was predictable or too sad, but the overall sentiment was one of admiration for the film's heartfelt message.

Awards & Accolades

Abigail Breslin was nominated for a Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actress: Drama.

Fun Fact

The film's ending was changed from Jodi Picoult's novel at the insistence of test audiences who found the original conclusion too depressing.

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