Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story (2003) (TV)

Director:

Peter Levin

Writer (WGA):

Ronni Kern (written by)

Release Date:

7 April 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Tagline:

When there was nothing to believe in, she believed in herself.

Plot:

Based on a true story. Liz Murray is a young girl who is taken care of by her loving, but drug-addicted parents. Liz becomes homeless at 15 and after a tragedy comes upon her, she begins her work to finish high school. |

Plot Keywords:

Homeless Teenager | Character Name In Title

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win & 2 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Tue. May 13

9:00 PM

LIFE

Cast

Thora Birch	...	Liz Murray
Michael Riley	...	Peter
Robert Bockstael	...	David
Makyla Smith	...	Chris
Kelly Lynch	...	Jean Murray
Jennifer Pisana	...	Young Liz
Aron Tager	...	Pops
Ellen Page	...	Young Lisa
Marla McLean	...	Lisa
Marguerite McNeil	...	Eva
Amber Godfrey	...	Dawn
Seamus Morrison	...	Bobby
John Fulton	...	Old Irish Cop
Rejean Cournoyer	...	Young Irish Cop
Mauralea Austin	...	Miss Wanda

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Company:

Barnet Bain Films

Trivia:

The reason that Liz Murray left Harvard was so that she could be transferred to another school, which would be less expensive than Harvard (for which she was only receiving $12,000 a year with her scholarship) and also closer to her father, who is very ill will AIDs.

Quotes:

Liz Murray: My mother was dying. My father was gone. But I had to believe that their road would rise up to meet me.

Movie Connections:

Features "Jeopardy!" (1984)

Very well done, with a good message....

I had only seen Thora Birch in "Ghost World" (where she was also quite good) and so felt she deserved credit for this TV movie which was based on a true story.

Kelly Lynch and Michael Riley portray Liz Murray's parents who are both drug addicts living in squalor in a NYC apartment. I am not certain why Lynch often gets these roles. In "The Jacket" she had a similar role, but she is nonetheless believable.

Liz Murray attends school, and while being an excellent student, has difficulty with her emotions, sadness, and unstable home life. Eventually her mother contracts AIDS, and must either live with her father, or some form of assisted living. Murray apparently managed on her own. She studies hard, takes AP college courses, and sleeps overnight in abandoned subway cars. (Anyone who has seen the NY city subway system know this is no small feat).

Birch is believable, and looks the part; with all the odds against her she does well, graduates high school, and is offered a scholarship to Harvard. The fact that this is a true story is positive, it is nice to see a movie with a decent message for kids with real reasons why they should stay in school. 9/10.