Losing Isaiah (1995)

Director:

Stephen Gyllenhaal

Writers (WGA):

Seth Margolis (novel)
Naomi Foner (screenplay)

Release Date:

17 March 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Who decides what makes a mother?

Plot:

The natural and adoptive mothers of a young boy are involved in a bitter, controversial custody battle.

Plot Keywords:

Baby | Social Worker | Custody Battle | Parenthood | Courtroom

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Jessica Lange	...	Margaret Lewin
Halle Berry	...	Khaila Richards
David Strathairn	...	Charles Lewin
Cuba Gooding Jr.	...	Eddie Hughes
Daisy Eagan	...	Hannah Lewin
Marc John Jefferies	...	Isaiah
Samuel L. Jackson	...	Kadar Lewis
Joie Lee	...	Marie
Regina Taylor	...	Gussie
LaTanya Richardson	...	Caroline Jones
Jacqueline Brookes	...	Judge Silbowitz
Donovon Ian H. McKnight	...	Amir
Rikkia A. Smith	...	Josie
Paulette McDaniels	...	Ethel
Velma Austin	...	Rehab Leader
Glenda Starr Kelly	...	Group Leader
Joan Kohn	...	Toby Fredericks
Patrick Clear	...	Bill Fredericks
Gaby Santinelli	...	Heidi (as Gabriella Santinelli)
Mike Bacarella	...	Liquor Store Clerk
Mike Houlihan	...	Liquor Store Cop #1
John Beasley	...	Garbage Man
James 'Ike' Eichling	...	Garbage Man
James F. Tillett	...	Intern
John Judd	...	Paramedic
Cheryl Hamada	...	ER Nurse
Jackie Taylor	...	ER Nurse
Valerie Shull	...	Mrs. Ianelli
Laura Cerón	...	NICU Woman
Jackie Samuel	...	NICU Nurse
Deanna Dunagan	...	Dr. Goldstein
Mike Nussbaum	...	Dr. Jamison
Margaret Travolta	...	Sandra Harris
Eddie Bo Smith Jr.	...	Alley Junkie
Jaqueline Fleming	...	File Cabinet Girl
Sibyl Offutt	...	Tenement Woman
Greg Hollimon	...	Tenement Man (as Gregory Hollimon)
Rick Worthy	...	Alley Man
Torrence W. Murphy	...	Alley Man
Crystal Barnes	...	Inmate
Sheila-Marie Robinson	...	Inmate
La Taunya Bounds	...	Inmate
Tamara Rutledge	...	Inmate
Valeri Ross	...	Day Care Teacher
Jacqueline Williams	...	Day Care Worker
Ora Jones	...	Day Care Woman
Nicholas Foster	...	Boy at Swings
Thomica Laquice Simmons	...	Neighbor Girl
Evan Lionel	...	Paramedic #2
Jennifer Crystal Foley	...	Park Nanny (as Jennifer Crystal)
Matthew Brennan	...	School Play Boy Singer
Denise Aguilar	...	School Play Singer
Christy Lombardi	...	School Play Singer
Hector Matos	...	School Play Singer
Stephanie Mullin	...	School Play Singer
Daniel Nudelman	...	School Play Singer
Elbert Pagan Jr.	...	School Play Singer
Kate Tash	...	School Play Singer
Chris Tossing	...	School Play Singer
Jonathan Rivera	...	School Play Cymbals Player
Karen Luehne	...	School Play Pianist
Brian Friedopfer	...	School Play Duck
Paul Jorjorian	...	School Play
Jim Minton	...	Lawyer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Trae Ireland	...	Neighbor Boy
Antonio Polk	...	Uncle Tyrone
Michael Anthony Williams	...	Various (as Michael Williams)

Directed by
Stephen Gyllenhaal

Writing credits (WGA)
Seth Margolis		(novel)
Naomi Foner		(screenplay)

Produced by
Kimberly Brent	....	associate producer
Naomi Foner	....	producer
Hawk Koch	....	producer (as Howard W. Koch Jr.)
Sharon Owyang	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Mark Isham

Cinematography by
Andrzej Bartkowiak

Film Editing by
Harvey Rosenstock

Casting by
Aleta Chappelle

Production Design by
Jeannine Claudia Oppewall

Art Direction by
William Arnold

Set Decoration by
Jay Hart

Costume Design by
Mary Malin

Makeup Department
Matiki Anoff	....	makeup artist
Art Anthony	....	special makeup effects
Lun Yé Hodges	....	key hair stylist
Paul LeBlanc	....	hair stylist: Ms. Lange (as Paul Leblanc)
Carol Meikle	....	hair stylist: Ms. Berry
Dorothy J. Pearl	....	makeup artist: Ms. Lange

Production Management
Ronald G. Smith	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Bettiann Fishman	....	second assistant director
Stefanie Moore	....	second second assistant director
Stephanie Moore	....	second second assistant director
Ellen H. Schwartz	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Fred Apolito	....	propmaker
Dawn Ascher-Trevino	....	construction estimator (as Dawn Ascher)
Mary A. Brady	....	set dressing buyer
D. Kelly Cummins	....	assistant property master
Edward England	....	construction coordinator (as Ed England)
Michael D. Gianneschi	....	set dresser
Dick Hansen	....	on-set dresser
Gary Happ	....	carpenter foreman
Cydney M. Harris	....	set designer
Aaron C. Holden Jr.	....	set dresser
Brick Mason	....	production illustrator
Carson E. Mayne	....	set dresser
Carlos Medina Jr.	....	greensperson
Kimberly K. Miller	....	art department coordinator
Mark Peltzer	....	property master
Joel Prihoda	....	lead man
Paul Stanwyck	....	head painter
Robert R. Volpe	....	property master: Chicago
Suzan Wexler	....	set designer
Tim Wilp	....	painter (as Timothy Wilp)
Anthony Joseph Fatigato	....	painter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Ulrika Akander	....	dialogue editor
Bob Baron	....	adr mixer
Kevin E. Carpenter	....	sound re-recording mixer
Anne Couk	....	first assistant sound editor
Gloria D'Alessandro	....	dialogue editor
Susan Dudeck	....	supervising sound editor
Ken Dufva	....	foley artist
Tammy Fearing	....	assistant sound editor
David Lee Fein	....	foley artist
Alison Fisher	....	dialogue editor
Christopher Flick	....	foley supervisor
Jeffrey J. Haboush	....	sound re-recording mixer
Allen Hartz	....	adr editor
Kurt Kassulke	....	sound re-recording mixer
John Kwiatkowski	....	sound effects editor
Tom Nelson	....	sound mixer
Jeffrey R. Payne	....	foley editor
Daniel Richter	....	boom operator (as Daniel J. Richter)
Carin Rogers	....	dialogue editor
Greg P. Russell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Kim Secrist	....	sound effects editor
Randy Singer	....	foley mixer
Frank Smathers	....	sound editor
Beth Sterner	....	supervising sound editor
Renee Tondelli	....	adr editor (as Renée Tondelli)
Bill Ward	....	assistant sound editor
Daryl Ziemke	....	cable person (as Daryl C. Ziemke)
Mike Szakmeister	....	dialogue editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Don Riozz McNichols	....	special effects (as Donald Rio McNichols)
Tom Ryba	....	special effects coordinator (as Thomas P. Ryba)

Stunts
Rick Le Fevour	....	stunt coordinator
Ken Moreno	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Patric J. Abaravich	....	additional photography gaffer
Art Bartels	....	key grip: Chicago
Sam Bertone	....	lighting technician (as Sam A. Bertone Jr.)
James Blanford	....	camera operator: "b" camera (as Jim Blanford)
Alphonse Blumenthal	....	chief lighting technician: Chicago
Chris Centrella	....	key grip
Eugene F. Crededio	....	rigging gaffer (as Eugene Crededio)
Gerrit Dangremond	....	camera operator
Fred Folmer	....	grip
Richard Foreman Jr.	....	still photographer
Michael Gershman	....	camera operator
Mikael Glattes	....	first assistant camera
Chris Haarhoff	....	Steadicam operator
William E. Hedenberg	....	aerial camera operator
Amy Hergoth	....	film loader (as Amy Herguth)
John Hudecek	....	dolly grip
Robert Krzeminski	....	lighting technician
Ted Lichtenheld	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Anthony J. Lullo	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Donald E. Miller	....	second company grip
David Morenz	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
William R. Nielsen Jr.	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
William R. Nielsen Jr.	....	second assistant camera
Hope A. Nielsen	....	film loader
Walter J. Piers	....	grip
James Ritchie	....	lighting technician
Andrew B. Walzer	....	video assist operator
William Ward	....	chief lighting technician
Frank Yario Jr.	....	video engineer

Casting Department
Leigh French	....	voice casting
Sandra Grand	....	casting assistant
Shaunda G. Jones	....	casting assistant (as Shaunda Jones)
Karen Peake	....	extras casting
Regina Prokop	....	extras casting assistant
Fred Saas	....	first extras casting assistant
Johnny White	....	extras casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gloria Coffey-Sharrieff	....	set costumer
Susan Kaufmann	....	costume supervisor
JoAnn Lam	....	costumer: Ms. Lange
Gail McMullen	....	assistant costume designer
Ellen Ryba	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Terry Haggar	....	color timer
Theresa Repola Mohammed	....	negative cutter
Julie Rogers	....	first assistant editor
Nicole Schubert	....	assistant film editor
Nicholas C. Smith	....	additional editor

Music Department
Bob Bornstein	....	music preparation
Thomas A. Carlson	....	music editor
Sandy DeCrescent	....	orchestra contractor
Charles Martin Inouye	....	music editor
Christopher Kennedy	....	music editor: source
Stephen Krause	....	music recordist
Stephen Krause	....	scoring mixer
Ken Kugler	....	orchestrator
Richard McIlvery	....	scoring stage manager
Bill Pearson	....	music engineer
Timothy R. Sexton	....	music supervisor
James Thatcher	....	musician: french horn

Transportation Department
George DiLeonardi	....	transportation coordinator
Timothy J. Maxwell	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Jacolyn Baker	....	location manager
Margaret Bedolla	....	assistant production office coordinator
Betsy Bottando	....	assistant location manager
Christopher J. Brown	....	production assistant
Dru Anne Carlson	....	script supervisor
Demetra Diamantopoulos	....	assistant location manager
Will Gatlin	....	craft service
Bonnie C. Harrison	....	production assistant
Peter Hollocker	....	production assistant
Lisa Knudson	....	assistant production auditor
Emmanuel Lariviere	....	production assistant
Paige Litz	....	assistant: Ms. Foner
Elton MacPherson	....	production auditor (as Elton L. Macpherson)
Mark Mamalakis	....	assistant location manager
Kelli McCormack	....	assistant: Ms. Foner
Charles Mcdonald	....	title designer
Leslie Mikol	....	production assistant
Lisa J. Olin	....	production associate
Cynthia Oliphant	....	production assistant
Margaret J. Orlando	....	production office coordinator
Brian C. Pawlowski	....	production assistant
Maurice Ross	....	production assistant
Lapacazo M. Sandoval	....	unit publicist (as Lapacazo Sandoval)
Sheena A. Spearman	....	production assistant
Michael Alan Stein	....	production assistant
Christopher Waters	....	second assistant production auditor (as Darren Waters)
Moira Michiels	....	extras coordinator (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures

Distributors

• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (video)
• CIC Video (1996) (Greece) (VHS)
• CIC Vídeo (199?) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Paramount Pictures

Other Companies

• Columbia Records  soundtrack
• Howard A. Anderson Company  titles and opticals
• Pacific Studios Inc.  chromatrans background
• Reed Rigging  equipment rental

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for drug related material and brief strong language

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Singapore:PG | UK:15 (video premiere) | Australia:M | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Iceland:L | USA:R (certificate #33118) | South Korea:15

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Originally shot for TV.

Quotes:

Khaila Richards:What is it you don't want him to know, huh? That his mother is as black as he is?
Margaret Lewin:[sneering] "Black!" All you people think about is color!
Khaila Richards:You people? You *people*? Well, you better look around, cause me and Isaiah, we the same kind of people. Or didn't you notice?

Soundtrack:

More Bounce To The Ounce

Indeed, who decides what a mother or father is?

I come from a family of 3 children, 2 adpoted and have to applaud this movie for doing a good job of pointing out that being a parent isn't about giving birth or "donating" sperm. A child always belongs with a family that loves him- it shouldn't be about color, or wealth or any other irrelevant factors. It's about responsibility and love. Any one can have a baby, not everyone can be a parent. There are certainly some stereotypes and the movie goes to the extreme point of a mother who literally throws away her baby to a family that is white, wealthy and kind to the child. The movie does this for dramatic purposes and succeeds in provoking a response from the many viewers who have seen this movie, as reviews will show. The movie also manages to enrage without even engaging the color issues. When Khaila's character tells her lawyer, "but I'm his mother" and insists on her "parental rights" it isn't even about color but about what is important about being a mother. Her character thinks that giving birth gives her rights over this tiny human being, (well played by Marc) when even children should be viewed as human beings with rights themselves. Parents who view children as possesions are wrong. I am "white" my husband is Mexican- does our child belong with one or the other? Khaila's lawyer says, "black babies belong with black mothers." Is that what we want to teach? Segregation? Doesn't work for me. Babies of any color belong with the people who take care of them and love them. That's what being a parent is.