The Other Sister (1999)

A mentally challenged young woman seeks independence by obtaining her own apartment and attending college while her family plans her sister's wedding.

Director:

Garry Marshall

Writers:

Alexandra Rose (story), Blair Richwood (story)

Stars:

Juliette Lewis, Diane Keaton, Giovanni Ribisi

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Juliette Lewis	...	Carla Tate
Diane Keaton	...	Elizabeth Tate
Tom Skerritt	...	Radley Tate
Giovanni Ribisi	...	Danny
Poppy Montgomery	...	Caroline Tate
Sarah Paulson	...	Heather Tate
Linda Thorson	...	Drew
Joe Flanigan	...	Jeff
Juliet Mills	...	Winnie
Tracy Reiner	...	Michelle
Hope Alexander-Willis	...	Marge
Harvey Miller	...	Dr. Johnson
Hector Elizondo	...	Ernie
Almayvonne	...	Rachel - Tech School (as Alma Yvonne)
Marvin Braverman	...	Uncle Sam Teacher - Tech School

Storyline

When Carla Tate, now a young woman, is 'graduated' out of the training school where she has resided for many years because she is mentally challenged, her hope is that she will be accepted for all that she can now do for herself. But Carla's family is wealthy which permits her mother, already blinded to her daughter's rather high-functioning abilities, to try and provide for Carla beyond her needs or desires, bringing forth the inevitable confrontations... for what Carla may lack in mental ability she certainly makes up for in her insistence on being independent, even to living in her own apartment. But if this isn't enough, into the mix comes a young man, equally challenged mentally, who moves Carla beyond anyone's control...

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Plot Keywords:

apartment | wedding | overprotective mother | mentally challenged man | mentally challenged woman | 

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Taglines:

A love story for the romantically challenged.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements involving sex related material

Did You Know?

Trivia

Marshall considered his daughter, Kathleen for the role of lesbian sister Heather Tate, but after seeing Sarah Paulson's audition he gave her the role.

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Goofs

It is very evident that Daniel is mentally challenged, so the bartender giving him such a strong alcoholic drink is highly unrealistic.

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Quotes

Carla Tate: No matter how long I wait I can't be a painter, and I can't play tennis, and I'm not an artist. But I know how to do something, and I can love.

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Connections

References Tootsie (1982)

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Soundtracks

Swinging
Written by James Patrick Dunne
Published by JPD Music
Performed by Roger Neumann Band
Courtesy of Rick Caruso Music Co.

User Reviews

Eh.

I didn't find myself to be particularly touched by this film. Frankly, I thought it tried just a little too hard to be happy and touching, and instead, the ending was laughable and the audience walks away feeling as if they've been beaten over the head with the "cutesy stick" way too often. It's true, the movie is set up that you're laughing at disabled people, when a good movie about this same subject would take you so much deeper into the joys and pains of these individuals. The not well-developed love between 'Carla' and 'Danny' is also "cutesy," and not a portrayed like a real reflection of any type of true love. And the acting - how hard is it to pretend to be retarded? The actors were convincing, but I gave the same caliber performance in 8th grade when my friends and I would set up our parents' video cameras and act like mentals (And don't look down at me, you know you did the same thing too).

Overall: Nothing too deep, interesting, or generally stimulating. I watched it on TNT at 2 o'clock in the morning - and that's where it belongs.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 February 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Other Sister

Filming Locations:

All Saint's Episcopal Church - 132 N. Euclid Avenue, Pasadena, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$35,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,624,445, 28 February 1999

Gross USA:

$27,807,627

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$27,807,627

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mandeville Films, Touchstone Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

129 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1