Sherrybaby (2006)

Sherry Swanson returns home to New Jersey after serving a three year prison sentence. Eager to reestablish a relationship with her young daughter, Sherry soon discovers that coming back to ... See full summary »

Director:

Laurie Collyer

Writer:

Laurie Collyer

Stars:

Maggie Gyllenhaal, Michelle Hurst, Ryan Simpkins

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 8 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Maggie Gyllenhaal	...	Sherry Swanson
Michelle Hurst	...	Dorothy Washington
Sandra Rodríguez	...	Desi
Anna Simpson	...	Sabrina
Giancarlo Esposito	...	Parole Officer Hernandez
Caroline Clay	...	Parole Officer Murphy
Rio Hackford	...	Andy Kelly
Brad William Henke	...	Bobby Swanson
Bridget Barkan	...	Lynette Swanson
Ryan Simpkins	...	Alexis Parks
Stephen Peabody	...	Mr. Monroe
Danny Trejo	...	Dean Walker
Sam Bottoms	...	Bob Swanson Sr.
Kate Burton	...	Marcia Swanson
Michael Dillon	...	Child at Birthday Party

Storyline

Sherry Swanson returns home to New Jersey after serving a three year prison sentence. Eager to reestablish a relationship with her young daughter, Sherry soon discovers that coming back to the world she left behind is far more difficult than she had planned.

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Plot Keywords:

prison | new jersey | red panties | female removes her clothes | crying | 

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Taglines:

No one makes it alone.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexuality, nudity, language and drug content

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [fr]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 February 2007 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Shall Not Want

Filming Locations:

Mountainside, New Jersey, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£36,036 (UK) (27 July 2007)

Gross:

£36,036 (UK) (27 July 2007)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Big Beach Films, Elevation Filmworks, Red Envelope Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ryan Simpkins lost four teeth on the set of Sherrybaby.

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Goofs

When Sherry and her daughter are sitting under the bed after the family ate, her daughter tells her something and when Sherry replies, you hear her say "I thought so", but her lips are saying something else.

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Quotes

[Sherry has just sat down at the beginning of an AA meeting]
Dean Walker: My name is Dean, I'm an alcoholic and an addict
[Entire group says, "Hi Dean."]
Dean Walker: Genesis Recovery is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that may solve their common problems and help others to recover from alcoholism and drug addiction. Is their anyone here tonight who feels the need to drink or use?
[Sherry raises her hand as she bites her nails]
Dean Walker: Go ahead little sister. Don't be shy...
Sherry Swanson:
[...]

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Connections

Features The Jerry Springer Show (1991)

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Soundtracks

"Some Kind of Heaven"
Written by Jack Livesey
Performed by Dana Fuchs
Courtesy of Duotone Audio Group, Ltd.

User Reviews

A realistic and adult look at the struggle of an ex-convict to reintegrate with society

The rehabilitation of an ex-convict can provide juicy stories so this should be no exception, as glamorous, short-skirted jailbird Sherry Swanson (Maggie Gyllenhaal from 'The Secretary') leaves prison yearning desperately to be re-united with her young and very lovable child Alexis. The telling of the story tries hard not to follow conventions and seems to have considerable integrity, yet by building high expectations it can almost not fail to charm and disappoint in equal measure.

With a beautiful background song, 'Some Kind of Heaven', we join Sherry as she starts parole and arrives at a half-way house, bible in hand, full of excitement and hope. Her character, skilfully conveyed by Gyllenhaal, alternates between that of a warm, charismatic individual and the more archetypical ex-prisoner. She has worked hard to reform herself during her incarceration, kicking drugs, studying parenting courses, developing her faith, and now has a beautiful warm smile that melts cold hearts; but just when you might worry about being subjected to an hour and a half of saccharin, she snaps when pushed, swears copiously, threatens a fellow ex-con that pushes her around and, when the employment manager looks set to consign her to waiting tables in a restaurant, tells him frankly, "I'll suck your dick if you give me the job I want." Starting a new life and getting back with her daughter proves hard as events conspire around her. Someone from Sherry's rehab programme recognises her from a strip club where she worked at age 16; her parole officer is hard on her just at the time when she her new dream job starts taking off; Alexis' foster parents are rightly cautious about having her around, and her father is a pervert. At first she uses sex as a release for her jealousies and frustrations with life, but soon progresses to alcohol and worse. Her self-confidence worn down, she realises she is only angry at herself and her inability to cope as well as she would like. Ironically, and perhaps with more humour than intended, she admits, "I'm just mad cos I suck." At one point she rejects a down to earth life-changing programme in favour of her Good Book, and sceptics might feel that leaning on religion in this way hardly does her any favours. Sherry's problem is maybe that she wants to 'reform' only to the extent she deems necessary to raise her child, but her comprehension of the task facing is like someone looking through a keyhole.

Realistic fly-on-the-wall performances prevent Sherrybaby from descending into a sentimental hard luck story. Society feels sympathy for someone in her predicament, but society - and also the law - feels even more concern when a defenceless child is caught up in the midst. The task of reintegrating with the outside world may be an almost impossible one, and Sherry fights bravely (even if we disapprove of some of her methods) but the increasing worry - and one that the movie, to its credit, doesn't dodge - is for the well-being of Alexis. Even left to her own devices (which she isn't), Alexis, unable to comprehend the complexity of what's happening around her, would probably gravitate to those adults radiating the emotional stability of her foster parents rather than the gushing love coupled with violent verbal or physical outbursts of her real mother. In one scene, Sherry violently rebukes a parent who is shaking and berating her son. Whatever the moral justification, Alexis is frightened and backs away.

Sherrybaby's weakness is that meanders on too long for the amount of underlying plot. Repeated family reunions add little to the story and begin to look like a TV documentary that goes on just slightly past its sell-by date. But to its credit it tackles a difficult subject with honesty, includes some gutsy performances, doesn't flinch from including very believable adult subject matter, and is quite enjoyable as long as you don't expect too much.