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What Kind of Mother Are You? (1996)
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Overview
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Release Date:
18 November 1996 (USA)
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They were further victimized by the system....
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Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Mel Harris | ... | Mrs. Laura Hyler |
 | Nicholle Tom | ... | Kelly Jameson |
 | Alex Carter | ... | Rob Hyler |
| Jason Cadieux | ... | Jake |
| Patricia Collins | ... | Bette |
 | Venus DeMilo | ... | Sheray (as Venus DeMilo Thomas) |
| Alicia Bergman | ... | Devon |
| Deborah Pollitt | ... | Geena |
| Sara Sahr | ... | Amber (as Sarah Sahr) |
 | Stuart Stone | ... | Steven Hyler |
 | Martin Roach | ... | Tony Barrow |
 | Mary Mara | ... | Marcy Hackman |
| Marion Gilsenan | ... | Judge Patricia Gorham |
| David Ferry | ... | Judge Keiter |
 | Amanda Tapping | ... | Ingrid Elstad |
Additional Details
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Runtime:
120 min
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1.33 : 1 more
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Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for What Kind of Mother Are You? (1996)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
|---|---|
| Dull, tedious family drama. | alex_UK |
| have you seen this one? | lrc050180 |
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It may have been helpful if the screenplay addressed some of the underlying issues: was this based on a true story?. If it was based on truth, all the more reason anyone with a problem child may want to watch this movie.
Mel Harris (of "Thirty Something" fame) does very well, portraying a harried mother, whose husband has committed suicide, now on her second marriage, and having difficulty with her rebellious daughter, Nicholle Tom.
In an incident after slapping her mother, Nicholle Tom is arrested, and Mel Harris assumes she may get her daughter out of jail the next day. Not so. The daughter ends up in the labyrinthine juvenile system- we see the failure of Legal Aid, the juvenile detention red tape and state workers with their own agenda. One social worker with a private vendetta is well portrayed by Mary Mara, as "Marcy" who accuses Nicholle Tom of being suicidal and dangerous, neither of which is true.
This film addresses some of the social issues which are prevalent today. Judgmental social workers, an inflexible legal system, and parenting in general are realistically addressed.
Anyone who is interested in these issues may want to watch "White Oleander", an excellent novel by Janet Fitch and movie starring Michele Pfeiffer and Allison Lohman.