Gracie's Choice (TV 2004)

A teenage girl tries to raise her three half-brothers and 1 half-sister on her own after their drug-addicted mother is sent to jail.

Director:

Peter Werner

Writers:

Rena Dictor Le Blanc (based in part on "Reader's Digest" article), Joyce Eliason (teleplay)

Stars:

Kristen Bell, Diane Ladd, Shedrack Anderson III

Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kristen Bell	...	Gracie Thompson
Diane Ladd	...	Louela Lawson
Shedrack Anderson III	...	Tommy (as Shedrack Anderson)
Anne Heche	...	Rowena Lawson
Roberta Maxwell	...	Judge
Kristin Fairlie	...	Rose Carlton
Brian Akins	...	Ryan Walker
David Gibson McLean	...	Jonny Blicker (as David McLean)
Jack Armstrong	...	Robbie Locascio
Robert Seeliger	...	Ray
Sandra Caldwell	...	Mrs. Thurston
Diego Matamoros	...	Bob Bessey
Jackie Torrens	...	Sandy Jacobs
Roger Dunn	...	Paul Gottfredson
Cecil Wright	...	Mr. Hines

Storyline

Anne Heche plays an abusive mother to Gracie, played by Kristen Bell. Gracie has always taken care of her three younger brothers and one sister. When her mother's drug and alcohol use goes too far, Gracie decides to take on the official role of mother to her brothers.

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Plot Keywords:

drugs | family crisis | responsibility | coming of age | funeral | 

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Taglines:

A story of love

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Official Sites:

Lifetime Movie Network Lifetime TV

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 January 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

Gracie választása

Filming Locations:

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$3,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mike Robe Productions, Nova Scotia Film Industry Tax Credit, Stephanie Germain Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Gracie is at work filling out an application for a scholarship her hair is in a brown headband. When she is running up to the hospital after getting the phone call her hair is back in clips, one on each side. When she walks into the hospital room her hair is back in the headband again. This could be because they originally had her grandmother go to the hospital earlier in the story and they used the same running clip. Earlier in the story her hair was in the two clips.

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Quotes

English Teacher: [Gracie is reading from Romeo and Juliet and it having hard time pronouncing] Stop! Where's your emotion? Haven't you ever heard of Romeo and Juliet?
Gracie Thompson: [trying not to sound naive] I know what a Romeo is.

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Connections

Featured in The 56th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (2004)

User Reviews

A wonderful movie!

I'm not usually one for daytime movies or the type to watch the Hallmark Channel (in the UK) but while channel hopping, I saw a trailer for this movie. What captured me was the fact that it was based on a true story, particularly based on a Readers Digest article (which I would love to read).

I made a point to watch this movie and I'm very glad that I did! From the very beginning as a viewer I could see a glimpse of the type of life-style that the family led. I instantly empathised (if that's the correct word) with the lead character of Gracie, played extremely well by Kirsten Bell! I don't want to give too much away, but this is a truly remarkable, heroic and self-sacrificing movie about a young girl who bares the weight of her family out of pure love. I am amazed how such a gem of a movie was made specifically for TV.

Wonderful! 10*