This movie is almost an infomercial for the organization of medical professionals who donate their time on periodic good will visits to poor countries to surgically repair babies and young children born with severe facial and mouth deformities.
Mika Boorem, who was actually a teenager, plays a character not unlike what she played in 'Blue Crush'. A head-strong teen who always wants to get her way, and doesn't have much empathy for the troubles of others. Here she is Malibu teen Katie who has convinced her mother that it is time to start taking the pill, she thinks she is ready for an intimate relationship with her boyfriend.
Half-way across the world in China, born the same day as Katie, is Yi Ding as Lin. She was born with severe facial deformities and was left in a hay field by the parents only to be discovered and raised by a man who wasn't her real dad. Lin grew up ashamed of her face, kept it covered, and didn't socialize.
At school back in Malibu is a visionary teacher, Sean Astin as Mr. Matthews. He knows that others have had great experiences by volunteering on a surgical mission trip, and his encouragement is responsible for Katie going to China. Katie learns of Lin, actually looks her up, and convinces her to go to Shanghai and get the surgery. Both teens are changed as a result of the experience.
There is a nice 7-minute extra on the DVD featuring real footage of real doctors doing surgeries on real children with deformities. It is a remarkable thing they are doing that makes a remarkable change for the children.
Mika Boorem, who was actually a teenager, plays a character not unlike what she played in 'Blue Crush'. A head-strong teen who always wants to get her way, and doesn't have much empathy for the troubles of others. Here she is Malibu teen Katie who has convinced her mother that it is time to start taking the pill, she thinks she is ready for an intimate relationship with her boyfriend.
Half-way across the world in China, born the same day as Katie, is Yi Ding as Lin. She was born with severe facial deformities and was left in a hay field by the parents only to be discovered and raised by a man who wasn't her real dad. Lin grew up ashamed of her face, kept it covered, and didn't socialize.
At school back in Malibu is a visionary teacher, Sean Astin as Mr. Matthews. He knows that others have had great experiences by volunteering on a surgical mission trip, and his encouragement is responsible for Katie going to China. Katie learns of Lin, actually looks her up, and convinces her to go to Shanghai and get the surgery. Both teens are changed as a result of the experience.
There is a nice 7-minute extra on the DVD featuring real footage of real doctors doing surgeries on real children with deformities. It is a remarkable thing they are doing that makes a remarkable change for the children.