The Brooke Ellison Story (TV 2004)

Rendered a quadriplegic since a child from a near-fatal neck injury, a young girl fights against all odds to succeed in life from grade school to her acceptance into college under the assistance of her loyal and dedicated mother.

Director:

Christopher Reeve

Writers:

Brooke Ellison (book), Jean Ellison (book),

Stars:

Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, John Slattery, Lacey Chabert

3 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio	...	Jean Ellison
John Slattery	...	Ed Ellison
Lacey Chabert	...	Brooke Ellison
Vanessa Marano	...	Young Brooke Ellison
Jenson Goins	...	Young Kysten Ellison
Devon Gearhart	...	Young Reed Ellison
Lauren Barrett	...	Older Kysten Ellison
Ryan Hudson	...	Reed Ellison
Luke Flynn	...	Jan Djilas
Terrence Gibney	...	Mr. Barnes (as Terence Gibney)
Sabah	...	Cara
Jerry Lee Leighton	...	Mr. Linski
Ramona Tyler	...	Bobbi (as Ramona Tyler)
Melinda Walsh	...	Barbara
Judy Leavell	...	Muriel

Storyline

Rendered a quadriplegic since a child from a near-fatal neck injury, a young girl fights against all odds to succeed in life from grade school to her acceptance into college under the assistance of her loyal and dedicated mother.

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Plot Keywords:

college | quadriplegic | high school | female protagonist | character name in title

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic elements and language

Details

Official Sites:

A&E

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 October 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

A História de Brooke Ellison

Filming Locations:

Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

A&E Television Networks, Sony Pictures Television, Cambria Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min 120 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Christopher Reeve's final directing project.

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Goofs

When Jean Ellison was about to take Brooke into the school for the first time after the accident, she parked near a set of stairs at the side of the school and proceeded to set up a portable ramp, but the brief scene prior showed the front of the school, which is accessible with a level doorway and an inclined sidewalk.

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Connections

Referenced in Heart of a Hero: A Tribute to Christopher Reeve (2006)

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Soundtracks

"It's Gonna Be Okay"
Performed by 'Theresa Andersson (I)'
Written by Anders Osborne / Joshua Ragsdale
Courtesy of Basin Street Records

User Reviews

Wonderful and inspiring

This TV movie about a quadriplegic who overcomes great obstacles to go on to college could be easily dismissed as just another cripple-of-the-week filler, even though it is based on a real person and true events. Two things keep that from happening: the extraordinary performance of Lacy Chabert as the quadriplegic, and the story's straightforward presentation, sometimes painful in its telling but never stooping to the saccharine (all credit is due here to the director, the late Chris Reeve, himself a quadriplegic). You would have to be made of stone not to feel tugged and ultimately uplifted by this story. A very young actress at the time this was made, Chabert is simply amazing as the protagonist and your heart will break for her as she struggles with an active, genius-level brain trapped in a ruined body. What a movie. It should be shown to every high school student. Hell, it should be shown to every family.