My Sister's Keeper (2009)

Director:

Nick Cassavetes

Writers (WGA):

Jeremy Leven (screenplay) and
Nick Cassavetes (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

26 June 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Anna Fitzgerald looks to earn medical emancipation from her parents who until now have relied on their youngest child to help their leukemia-stricken daughter Kate remain alive.

Plot Keywords:

Lawyer | Leukemia | Family Crisis | Kiss | Wig

Awards:

3 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Abigail Breslin	...	Anna Fitzgerald
Walter Raney	...	Pawn Shop Proprietor
Sofia Vassilieva	...	Kate Fitzgerald
Cameron Diaz	...	Sara Fitzgerald
Heather Wahlquist	...	Aunt Kelly
Jason Patric	...	Brian Fitzgerald
Evan Ellingson	...	Jesse Fitzgerald
Alec Baldwin	...	Campbell Alexander
Nicole Marie Lenz	...	Gloria (as Nicole Lenz)
Paul Butler	...	Jesse age 3 (as Paul Christopher Butler)
Olivia Hancock	...	Kate age 2
Jeffrey Markle	...	Dr. Wayne
Emily Deschanel	...	Dr. Farquad
John DeRosa	...	EMT (as John De Rosa)
Marcos A. Ferraez	...	EMT (as Marcos De La Cruz)
Noni Tulk-Perna	...	Ellen
Matthew Barry	...	Uncle Tommy (as Matt Barry)
Annie Wood	...	Uncle Tommy's Wife
Mark Johnson	...	Uncle Pervis (as Mark M. Johnson)
Chris Kinkade	...	Dr. Nguyen
David Thornton	...	Dr. Chance
Elizabeth Daily	...	Nurse Susan (as E.G. Daily)
Rico Simonini	...	Process Server
Frank Cassavetes	...	Gus
David Bortolucci	...	Harry
Olivia Jade Fine	...	Anna Age 6
Andrew Schaff	...	Nurse Stephen
Brennan Bailey	...	Jesse Age 10
Andrew Shack	...	Lawyer for Previous Case
Angel Garcia	...	Gangbanger's Mom
Joan Cusack	...	Judge De Salvo
Frank Peluso	...	Bailiff #2
Daniel Guzman	...	Gangbanger's Lawyer
Paul Olguin	...	Gangbanger (as Paul Anthony Olguin)
Rick Salomon	...	Bailiff Bert (as Big Al)
Mimi Fletcher	...	De Salvo's Secretary
Lin Shaye	...	Nurse Adele
Eric Cueto	...	Street Hustler
Lexi Kiana Ryan	...	Street Hustler (as Lexi Ryan)
Nina Barry	...	Miss Swearingen
Thomas Dekker	...	Taylor Ambrose
Ellia English	...	Nurse Alice
Mary Jo Deschanel	...	Saleswoman
Jonah Johnson	...	Lead Prom Singer
Rob Giles	...	Prom Guitarist
Kaiulani Kimbrell	...	Backup Prom Singer
Dylan Showalter	...	Prom Bass Player
Jarred Tibbetts	...	Prom Drummer
Precious Hanley	...	Mandy
Michael Chow	...	Dr. Chow
Jonathan Moonves	...	Percy Smith, Esquire (as Jon Moonves)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Don Abernathy	...	Upscale Businessman (uncredited)
Roy Allen III	...	Lawyer (uncredited)
Charan Andreas	...	Transvestite (uncredited)
Lynn Clayton	...	The Dancer (uncredited)
Paul Edney	...	Funeral Mourner (uncredited)
Lubella Gauna	...	Nurse (uncredited)
Tommy Gerrits	...	Nephew of Andromeda Anna Fitzgeraid (uncredited)
Gilley Grey	...	EMT #3 (uncredited)
Keith Kraft	...	Paramedic (uncredited)
Nicole Nelson	...	Family Member (uncredited)
Sara Peña	...	Friend at School (uncredited)
Ryan Preimesberger	...	Court Clerk (uncredited)
Retson Ross	...	School Classmate (uncredited)
Kaleti Williams	...	Bouncer (uncredited)

Directed by
Nick Cassavetes

Writing credits (WGA)
Jeremy Leven		(screenplay) and
Nick Cassavetes		(screenplay)
Jodi Picoult		(novel)

Produced by
Toby Emmerich	....	executive producer
Merideth Finn	....	executive producer
Griff Furst	....	producer: Curmudgeon Films
Stephen Furst	....	executive producer
Scott Goldman	....	producer (as Scott L. Goldman)
Mark Johnson	....	producer
Mark Kaufman	....	executive producer
Chuck Pacheco	....	producer
Diana Pokorny	....	executive producer
Steven Posen	....	co-producer
Hillary Sherman	....	co-producer
Mendel Tropper	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Aaron Zigman

Cinematography by
Caleb Deschanel		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Jim Flynn
Alan Heim

Casting by
Matthew Barry
Nancy Green-Keyes

Production Design by
Jon Hutman

Set Decoration by
Maggie Martin

Costume Design by
Shay Cunliffe

Makeup Department
Robin Fredriksz	....	makeup artist: Cameron Diaz
Erin Hicks	....	key hair stylist: new york
Suzanne Kontonickas	....	department head hair stylist: Montana secont unit
Eryn Krueger Mekash	....	makeup department head (as Eryn Krueger)
Natasha Ladek	....	wig maker: Sofia Vassileva
Kelley Mitchell	....	makeup artist
Bunny Parker	....	hair department head
Tena Parker	....	assistant head hair stylist (as Tena Parker-Baker)
Laurie Smith	....	contact lens technician
Amy Spiegel	....	key makeup artist: New York
Christien Tinsley	....	special effects makeup
Alicia M. Tripi	....	hair stylist
Lona Vigi	....	hair stylist: Cameron Diaz
Jay Wejebe	....	key makeup artist
Hiroshi Yada	....	special makeup effects crew: Tinsley Transfers inc.
Susan Zietlow-Maust	....	key hair stylist
Judy Staats	....	additional makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Erik Holmberg	....	executive in charge of production
Nancy Kirhoffer	....	post-production supervisor
Michelle Morrissey	....	production manager
Diana Pokorny	....	unit production manager
Rick Reynolds	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Rich Ceraulo	....	segment director
Bac DeLorme	....	key second assistant director
Peter Dress	....	second assistant director: Montana
Kathleen E. Kearney	....	second assistant director: New York
Jonathan McGarry	....	first assistant director
Taylor Phillips	....	second second assistant director
Paul Schmitz	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Claudia Bonfe	....	set dressing buyer
Jason T. Clark	....	art department assistant
David Corral	....	greensman
James M. Davis	....	general forman
Maureen Farley	....	property master
Gregory P. Fuller	....	toolman
John P. Goldsmith	....	assistant art director
Adam Goodnoff-Cernese	....	key props/set dressing: New York b-unit
Greg Knapp	....	construction medic
Kim Larsen-Santini	....	props
David R. Lawson	....	construction medic
Ronnie Lombard	....	greensman
Larry Misselhorn	....	head greensman
Jeff Passanante	....	construction coordinator
Charlotte Raybourn	....	art department coordinator
Graham Robertson	....	set dresser
Scott Schutzki	....	set dresser
Mark Sparks	....	propmaker foreman
Richard Blake Wester	....	set dressing gang boss
Corinne Wedlake	....	art department intern (uncredited)

Sound Department
Wade Barnett	....	adr recordist
Kelly Cabral	....	supervising sound editor
Steve Cantamessa	....	sound mixer
Melissa A. Corns	....	sound effects editor
Dominique Decaudain	....	foley artist (as Dominique Tadach)
Mark DeSimone	....	adr mixer: New York
David Lee Fein	....	foley artist
Eric Flickinger	....	digital sound mix technician
Doug Hemphill	....	sound re-recording mixer (as D.M. Hemphill)
Hilda Hodges	....	foley artist
David Jobe	....	foley artist
David Jobe	....	foley mixer
Elizabeth Kenton	....	adr editor
Scott La Rue	....	boom operator
Travis MacKay	....	adr recordist
Nancy MacLeod	....	sound editor
Mark Messick	....	sound effects editor
Jason Oliver	....	adr recordist
Aynee Osborn	....	dialogue editor
Jan Petrov	....	adr recordist
Gary Thomas	....	boom operator
Eric Thompson	....	adr mixer
Frank Verderosa	....	adr recordist

Special Effects by
Charles Cooley	....	special effects technician
Robert Garrigus	....	pyrotechnician
Tom Seymour	....	special effects technician
Sandra Stewart	....	special effects technician
J.D. Streett	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Daphne Apellanes-Ackerson	....	compositor: Matte World Digital
Mandy Arnold	....	digital restoration artist
Craig Barron	....	visual effects supervisor: Matte World Digital
Heather Dennis	....	titles coordinator
Garrett Fry	....	digital matte painter
Jaymie Lam	....	compositor: Matte World Digital
Josh Mossotti	....	visual effects artist
Michael S. Pryor	....	visual effects producer: Laser Pacific
Lauren Ritchie	....	executive in charge of visual effects
Jason Wilson	....	visual effects artist
Michael Honrada	....	roto artist: Matte World Digital (uncredited)

Stunts
Gary Baxley	....	stunts
Eddie Braun	....	stunt coordinator
Dan Brown	....	stunts
Cody Gill	....	stunt performer
Sean Graham	....	stunts
Ed McDermott II	....	precision driver
Conrad E. Palmisano	....	stunt performer
Pat Romano	....	stunt rigger
Russell Solberg	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Sidney Ray Baldwin	....	still photographer
James Barrett	....	rigging gaffer
Ron Batzdorff	....	still photographer
Michael S. Beckman	....	lighting technician
Salim Benshir	....	electrician
Erik Bernstein	....	best boy electric
Lauren Blair	....	rigging electrician (as Lauren Fitton)
Brad Boyer	....	best boy grip
Robin Bursey	....	film loader
Colin J. Campbell	....	gaffer
Chad Cohlmia	....	electrician
David C. Darrow	....	grip
Collin Davis	....	camera operator: second unit
Jerry C. Deats	....	key grip
Alan R. Disler	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Nathan Dean Fetzer	....	electrician
Brandon Flohr	....	grip
Matt Floyd	....	rigging grip
J.P. Gabriel	....	gaffer: Montana
James Gembala	....	rigging electrician
Christopher Glasgow	....	dolly grip
Timothy Hale	....	grip
Brian Heller	....	aerial cinematographer
Gembala James	....	rigging electrician
Lee Jordan	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Jacques Jouffret	....	Steadicam operator
Kris Krosskove	....	camera operator
Beau Lambert	....	lighting technician
Kim Marks	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Pat O'Mara	....	grip
Dustin Penrod	....	set lighting technician
Scott Andrew Ressler	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Ron Santoyo	....	grip
Giorgio Scali	....	director of photography: second unit
Jay Sheveck	....	libra technician
Sean Smith	....	lighting technician
Tommy Tieche	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Diana Ulzheimer	....	camera intern
Michael Woodside	....	lighting technician

Casting Department
Judy Cook	....	casting associate
Tracy Dixon	....	extras casting
David Kramer	....	extras casting
Ryan Preimesberger	....	casting intern
David Zahedian	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Yulia Gershenzon	....	costumer: Cameron Diaz
Alyssa Kim	....	set costumer
Jason M. Moore	....	set costumer
Katie Saunders	....	costume supervisor
Jennifer Day Young	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Nic Angell	....	digital intermediate producer
Mike Brosius	....	digital intermediate producer
Bruce Goodman	....	colorist
Kevin Lefler	....	first assistant editor
Monika Lind	....	post-production assistant
Jim Passon	....	color timer
Katie Pastore	....	post-production coordinator
Mike Sowa	....	digital intermediate colorist

Music Department
George Doering	....	musician
Paul S. Henning	....	musician: violin
Steve Juliani	....	music preparation
Emily C. Kwong	....	assistant music editor (as Emily H. Cummins)
Peter Rotter	....	orchestra contractor
Angie Rubin	....	music editor
Dennis S. Sands	....	music scoring mixer
Erin Scully	....	music executive
Michael Stern	....	music recording engineer: additional score mixer
Jesse Voccia	....	electronic music programmer

Transportation Department
Myleen Chapin	....	transportation office coordinator
Michael Coady	....	transportation co-captain
Christopher DiMarco	....	transportation
Timothy 'Toes' Erwin	....	transportation coordinator
Timothy Flynn	....	driver
Robert Gaskill	....	driver
Richard Lengel	....	driver
Brett Miller	....	transportation captain
Jim Oge Jr.	....	driver
Mike Painter	....	transportation
Jesse Parton	....	driver
Frank Porras	....	transportation co-captain
Brian Steagall	....	transportation
Allen Strockbine	....	driver: production van
Jon White	....	transportation co-captain

Other crew
Rachel Aberly	....	unit publicist
Ahmet Ahmet	....	head titles designer
Spencer Andrews	....	stand in: Thomas Dekker (as Spencer Jambor)
Spencer Andrews	....	stand-in: Evan Ellingson (as Spencer Jambor)
John Ansotegui	....	liaison: second unit
Laura Bagano	....	key craft service
Lori A. Balton	....	location scout
Dana Belcastro	....	production executive
Patrick Bentley	....	assistant: Abigail Breslin
Ben Betts	....	video/computer playback operator
Michael Betz	....	key assistant location manager: second unit
Kandice Billingsley	....	key assistant location manager
Josh Burns	....	key assistant location manager
Catherine Burt	....	assistant: Cameron Diaz
Cecilia Cardwell	....	studio teacher: Abigail Breslin
Mark Ceryak	....	assistant: Mr. Johnson
David Chiu	....	production assistant
Brian Clark	....	rigging medic
Stephen Clarke	....	set production assistant
Paddy Connor	....	production assistant
Stephenson Crossley	....	key assistant location manager
Alissa Dean	....	segment producer
Terry Edinger	....	production accountant
Louis Farah Jr.	....	medic
Heather Fielding	....	studio teacher
Mark A. Freid	....	key assistant location manager
Kevin Funston	....	location scout
Jeremy Gilbreath	....	production assistant
Emily Glatter	....	supervising production coordinator
Jane Goldsmith	....	script supervisor
Casey Green	....	video/computer playback operator
Ali Griffith	....	assistant production coordinator: additional
Thomas L. Gunderson	....	animal trainer (as Thomas Gunderson)
Lindsay Heller	....	production assistant
Courtney Hess	....	production assistant
Jason Huberman	....	post-production accountant
Meredith Humbracht	....	production coordinator
Grant Kirkpatrick	....	production assistant
David R. Lawson	....	medic
Alex Lee	....	additional production assistant
Cary Sato Lee	....	craft service
Teresa Jolene Lee	....	set production assistant
Hiromi Marder	....	payroll accountant
Thomas Markoff	....	journal production assistant
Marybeth Martin-Eck	....	first assistant accountant
Kim Meredith	....	nurse advisor
Cristie Miele	....	animal trainer
Keri Moorhouse	....	assistant production coordinator
Keri Moorhouse	....	assistant: Jason Patric
Rusty Nye	....	assistant: Sofia Vassilieva
Carrie A. Oyer	....	assistant production coordinator: travel
Frank Peluso	....	assistant: Mr. Cassavetes
Vicky Pezza	....	additional set production assistant
Amanda J. Powderly	....	accounting clerk
Mark Romanelli	....	key set production assistant
Brandon Schiffman	....	set production assistant
Shawn Schminke	....	office production assistant
Romy Schneider	....	contract administrator
Craig Schoenfeld	....	studio teacher
Rony Shino	....	key assistant location manager
Kerri Smeltzer	....	assistant: Mr. Pokorny
Kerri Smeltzer	....	production coordinator: additional photography
Gene Starzenski	....	medic
Joe Steele	....	production resources
Julian Tyler	....	production assistant
Jamie Vermilye	....	location assistant
Kristan Wagner	....	location manager
Madison R. Wells	....	stand-in: Cameron Diaz
Jen Willis	....	production assistant
Lucy Winn	....	assistant: Mr. Johnson
Mike Doto	....	production manager: titles (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Curmudgeon Films
• Gran Via Productions
• Mark Johnson Productions

Distributors

• Alliance Atlantis Motion Picture Distribution (2009) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Cinestar (2009) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• Distribution Company (2009) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Entertainment Film Distributors (2009) (UK) (theatrical)
• GAGA (2009) (Japan) (theatrical)
• New Line Cinema (2009) (USA) (theatrical)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2009) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Village Films (2009) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2009) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2009) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2009) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2009) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2009) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2009) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Film1 (2010) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Home Box Office (HBO) (2010) (USA) (TV)
• Long Shong Entertainment Multimedia Company (2009) (Taiwan) (DVD)
• Metropolitan Filmexport (2009) (France) (all media)
• PlayArte Filmes (2009) (Brazil) (all media)
• TriPictures (2009) (Spain) (all media)
• Warner Home Video (2010) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2010) (Germany) (DVD) (Blu-Ray)
• Warner Home Video (2010) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)

Special Effects

• Matte World Digital (matte effects)

Other Companies

• Avon Studio Transport  transportation
• Behind the Scenes Freight  shipping by
• Birds & Animals Unlimited  animals provided by
• Casting Associates  extras casting
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Direct Tools & Fasteners  expendables
• Entertainment Clearances  rights and clearances
• Film Art  artwork
• Framepool  stock footage supplier
• Hollywood-DI  HD screening services
• Imaginary Forces  main titles
• LCW Props  set equipment
• LaserPacific  digital intermediate
• Lightnin' Production Rentals  star trailers
• Montana Film Office  special thanks
• Movie Movers  hair and make-up trailers
• Movie Movers  production trailers
• Movie Movers  star trailers
• Music Package  music supervision
• New Line Records  soundtrack
• Panavision Remote Systems  remote cranes and heads
• Panavision  camera equipment
• Red Talent and Literary Agency  talent agency and representative
• Reel Security  production security
• Rockbottom Rentals  Nextel cell phone rentals
• Rockbottom Rentals  cellular fax rentals
• Rockbottom Rentals  junxion box rentals
• Scarlet Letters  end titles
• Soundtrack  adr facility
• Star Waggons  studio pumping
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack
• Wildfire Studios  adr recording facility

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic content, some disturbing images, sensuality, language and brief teen drinking

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Croatian

Color:

Color (DeLuxe)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #45058) | Ireland:15A | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | UK:12A | Iceland:12 | Mexico:B | South Korea:12 | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | New Zealand:M | Australia:M | Argentina:13 | Taiwan:GP | Netherlands:12 | Hong Kong:IIA | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Brazil:Livre | Sweden:11 | Malaysia:PG-13 | Italy:VM14 | Germany:12 | Norway:11

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Curmudgeon Films

Trivia:

Sofia Vassilieva shaved her hair and eyebrows off in order to play Kate Fitzgerald. She described it as being the least she could do to understand Kate's pain. Because she was filming both this movie and the TV show "Medium" (2005), her hair was turned into a wig for her.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Just after the court case the lawyer drives to the family's home, yet he had just had an epileptic seizure and was known to have regular seizures - hence the dog. In California, and most of USA, your epilepsy must be controlled for at least 3 months before you are allowed to drive.

Quotes:

Jesse Fitzgerald:Jesus christ, Anna, just tell them.
Andromeda 'Anna' Fitzgerald:You shut up.
Jesse Fitzgerald:Tell them why we're here. Tell them what we're doing here in court...
Andromeda 'Anna' Fitzgerald:[cuts in] You promised me that you wouldn't do this.
Jesse Fitzgerald:God, you people are so stupid!
Andromeda 'Anna' Fitzgerald:[shouts] you promised!
Jesse Fitzgerald:Kate wants to die!
Andromeda 'Anna' Fitzgerald:Stop it!
Jesse Fitzgerald:She's making Anna do all this 'cause she knows she's not gonna survive another operation.
Sara Fitzgerald:[yells] That's a lie, Jesse.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire: Episode #8.172" (2010)

Soundtrack:

Better

Letting Go

In "My Sister's Keeper" amazing Thomas Dekker as Taylor gently holds a bedpan as momentarily fragile Sofia Vassilleva's chemo weakened Kate vomits. Taylor says, "That could be me tomorrow." He unwraps a stick of gum, and gives it to Kate. Then he unwraps a second as well, and gives it to her. I was in tears. Director and Writer Nick Cassavetes's scene is sweet, and understated in its humanity. Not all of Cassavetes (director of "The Notebook") and Writer Jeremy Leven's "My Sister's Keeper" is as gentle. Their "My Sister's Keeper", based on the bestselling novel by Jodi Picoult, is a heart wrenching tear jerker that will both stab and touch your heart. It may be one of the best movies of the year. Alec Baldwin is amazing, reminding us what a powerful actor he can be. Sofia Vassilleva is astounding. Thomas Dekker is awesome. Cameron Diaz gives perhaps her best performance, ever.

In "My Sister's Keeper" 11 year-old Anna Fitzgerald (spirited Abigail Breslin) is expected to donate her kidney to her leukemia stricken older sister Kate (Vassilleva), who is in renal failure. However, as it turns out Anna was specifically sired to provide body parts for Kate, be it bone marrow, platelets, and now kidney. Weary of the overwhelming responsibility for an 11 year-old, Anna hires famous attorney Campbell Alexander to file for emancipation from her parents. Her mom is Sara (Cameron Diaz), a former attorney who retired to care for Kate. She swears to her husband Brian (quietly strong Jason Patric), "I'm not going to let her (Kate) die!"

Sara slaps Anna, when she receives the court summons. Enraged Sara confronts Alexander (Baldwin) in his office, confessing that he is good and almost had her believing that he cared about Anna. In utter solace Alexander admits, "Funny? I was about to say the same thing to you." Baldwin is so powerful. His Alexander illuminates the heartbreaking question: We know that Sara would die for Kate, but does she also love Anna, the daughter they had entirely to save her sister? Abigail Breslin is stellar in both her heartbreak and joy. Cassavetes paints a wonderful scene as fireman Brian watches Anna spend dinner with the other firemen at his station. It is the only time she really gets to be an 11 year-old girl, and not her sister's keeper. Brian says to Sara, "What if she doesn't want to do it?" For Sara that is not an answer. Here Diaz is painfully human as a mother outraged by the unfairness of life. She will not let go, even if costs her the love of one daughter.

To that end Cassavetes has the electrifying Joan Cusack as Judge De Salvo, who hears Anna's case. Turns out this is her first case since suffering a nervous breakdown following the death of her 13 year-old daughter in a hit-and-run accident. In her meeting in chambers with Anna, Anna asks De Salvo, "What did it feel like when she died?" Cusack is shockingly and powerfully silent for a minute as a tear runs down her cheek. Anna apologizes for asking. Cusack says, "Death is death." That is counterpoint to Sara. Finally, Sara's sister Kelly (beautiful and strong Heather Wahlquist) implores Sara, "You gotta let go…"

There is a surprise in "My Sister's Keeper", though in retrospect it makes a lot of sense. In the dramatic court scene brother Jesse (surprisingly strong Evan Ellingson) screams to Anna, "Tell them the truth!" But it is the quiet moments that moved, and had me in tears. Suffering Kate confesses to Anna, "I'm sorry I let them hurt you… I was supposed to protect you." Vassilleva as Kate is amazing in scene with Diaz, as she tells her Mom, "It's okay." Life goes on. Death is death. And you gotta let go. Nick Cassavetes's "My Sister's Keeper" is beautiful and moving in its simplicity as the story celebrates life, family, and power of love. See "My Sister's Keeper".