The Memory Keeper's Daughter (2008) (TV)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Mick Jackson

Writers (WGA):

John Pielmeier (teleplay)
Kim Edwards (novel)

Release Date:

12 April 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A father separates his son from his twin sister at birth to prevent him and the mother from knowing she was born with Down syndrome. Based on the novel by Kim Edwards.

Plot Keywords:

Twin | Down Syndrome | Nurse | Camera | Truck Driver

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 3 nominations

Cast

Emily Watson	...	Caroline Gil
Dermot Mulroney	...	Dr. David Henry
Gretchen Mol	...	Nora Henry
Krystal Hope Nausbaum	...	Phoebe
Hugh Thompson	...	Al
Owen Pattison	...	Paul - age 6
Dominique D'Arnell	...	Little Girl
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jeremy Akerman	...	The Minister
Heather Blom	...	Student Stage Manager
Mary Colin Chisolm	...	David's Mother (as Mary-Colin Chrisolm)
David Christoffel	...	Pete Warren (as David C)
Emma Colbert	...	Phoebe 6 years
Shawn Duggan	...	Doctor Sanders
Molly Dunsworth	...	Young Woman - 18 years
Dylan Harman	...	Robert
Gay Hauser	...	Department Store Clerk
Brian Heighton	...	Police Officer
Simon Henderson	...	Billy
Martha Irving	...	Supervisor
Sandrine Lauzon	...	Newborn Phoebe
Susan Leblanc-Crawford	...	Lee
Lita Llewellyn	...	Ruby
David Gibson McLean	...	Duke (as David McLean)
Kerry McPherson	...	Kay
Bruce Murphy	...	Checkout Clerk
Catherine O'Connor	...	Tabitha
Mark A. Owen	...	Mover (as Mark Owen)
Don Ritchie	...	Board President
Jamie Spilchuk	...	Paul - age 18-22
Tyler Stentiford	...	Paul 13 years
Rob Stewart
William Stordy	...	Young David

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Singapore:PG | UK:PG

Company:

Jaffe/Braunstein Films

Goofs:

Continuity: During the scene where the lady is leaning into the car to tell him about the "funeral" there are a couple of people walking in the background. The same pair walk out past the bushes two times within 30 seconds or so.

Quotes:

Nora Henry: [burning the pictures from the darkroom and referring to David] Bastard! That bastard!

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 60th Primetime Emmy Awards (2008) (TV)

'In Camera"

THE MEMORY KEEPER'S DAUGHTER in the form of a novel by Kim Edwards was a highly successful bestseller and probably was featured in more reading groups than any other novel during its circulation. So what happened when the novel became a made-for-television movie? Perhaps it is the below mediocre screenplay (oops!, teleplay!) by John Pielmeier that consistently galumphs along in an awkward pedestrian fashion removing all sense of credibility to the story. Perhaps it is the cut and paste direction by Mick Jackson that misses the pacing and character delineation. Perhaps it suffers from the cinematography of an uncredited source or the 'liquid tears' musical score by Daniel Licht. For whatever of these (or all of these) reasons, this novel-to-film survives because it does make a good case for educating the public about the capabilities of those born with Down Syndrome. And for that it is worthy of attention.

Dr. David Henry (Dermot Mulroney), a successful orthopedic doctor, is married to the beautiful Norah (Gretchen Mol) and their lives are becoming changed by their pregnancy. On a stormy winter night in Kentucky Norah goes into labor and the Henry's rush to a nearby clinic where David delivers his wife (the doctor is caught in a snowstorm) with the assistance of his old friend, nurse Caroline Gill (Emily Watson). After the delivery of a perfect boy child (Paul) Norah continues to be in labor and (surprisingly...) delivers an unexpected (!) twin girl. David and Caroline immediately recognize that the little girl (Phoebe) is a 'mongoloid' (this is before the use of the term Down Syndrome) and David, having a history of losing a little sister because of a birth defect) decides to send Phoebe to an asylum for the mentally challenged: Caroline is to make the delivery and Norah is told the second twin died at birth.

Caroline follows instructions, sees the conditions of the 'home' where Phoebe is to be deposited, shrinks in horror, and decides to keep the child. Aided by a friendly trucker, Caroline changes her solitary existence and mothers Phoebe, finding a new life in her trucker's Pittsburgh. Norah insists on a formal funeral for Phoebe - a fact that deeply disturbs David's psyche, and the Henry's life goes on with only the one child Paul, leaving submerged pains about the lack of Phoebe's presence. Norah gifts David with a camera ('peoples lives are like a camera, that's where they live - in a room captured by a moment') and David becomes obsessed with photography. Norah grieves, drinks, and loses David's attention, while David traces Phoebe's existence with Caroline - sending money and letters to Pittsburgh. Paul (Tyler Stentiford to Jamie Spilchuk) grows up, discovers his mother's infidelities and is angered about his father's lack of communication and understanding, and decides to fulfill his goal of becoming a musician, and off to Juilliard he goes. Meanwhile Phoebe (Krystal Hope Nausbaum) has matured into a very highly adapted young girl, and the manner in which the broken marriage of the Henrys happens and the healing atmosphere of Phoebe's and Paul's lives coupled with the courage that has supported Caroline Gill's struggle to gain acceptance in the world for those born with Down Syndrome forms the conclusion of the film.

The cast of well-known actors tries hard, but only Emily Watson is able to resurrect a credible character from this squishy script. Jamie Spilchuk gives evidence of a young actor with much promise. Dermot Mulroney and Gretchen find it difficult to mold empathetic characters form the corny lines they are given to deliver. The film is a mess, but the message about acceptance of Down Syndrome children and adults is an important one. Grady Harp