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IMDbPro

Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story

  • TV Movie
  • 20032003
  • TV-14TV-14
  • 1h 44m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
4K
YOUR RATING
Thora Birch in Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story (2003)
  • Biography
  • Drama
Based on a true story. Liz Murray is a young girl who is taken care of by her loving, but drug-addicted parents. Liz becomes homeless at 15 and after a tragedy comes upon her, she begins her... Read allBased on a true story. Liz Murray is a young girl who is taken care of by her loving, but drug-addicted parents. Liz becomes homeless at 15 and after a tragedy comes upon her, she begins her work to finish high school.Based on a true story. Liz Murray is a young girl who is taken care of by her loving, but drug-addicted parents. Liz becomes homeless at 15 and after a tragedy comes upon her, she begins her work to finish high school.
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
4K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Peter Levin
  • Writer
    • Ronni Kern
  • Stars
    • Thora Birch
    • Michael Riley
    • Robert Bockstael
Top credits
  • Director
    • Peter Levin
  • Writer
    • Ronni Kern
  • Stars
    • Thora Birch
    • Michael Riley
    • Robert Bockstael
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 31User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys
      • 3 wins & 6 nominations total

    Photos12

    Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story (2003)
    Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story (2003)
    Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story (2003)
    Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story (2003)
    Thora Birch and Kelly Lynch in Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story (2003)
    Thora Birch in Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story (2003)
    Thora Birch in Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story (2003)
    Thora Birch and Kelly Lynch in Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story (2003)
    Thora Birch in Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story (2003)
    Thora Birch in Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story (2003)
    Thora Birch and Kelly Lynch in Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story (2003)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Thora Birch
    Thora Birch
    • Liz Murrayas Liz Murray
    Michael Riley
    Michael Riley
    • Peteras Peter
    Robert Bockstael
    Robert Bockstael
    • Davidas David
    Makyla Smith
    • Chrisas Chris
    Kelly Lynch
    Kelly Lynch
    • Jean Murrayas Jean Murray
    Jennifer Pisana
    • Young Lizas Young Liz
    Aron Tager
    Aron Tager
    • Popsas Pops
    Elliot Page
    Elliot Page
    • Young Lisaas Young Lisa
    • (as Ellen Page)
    Marla McLean
    • Lisaas Lisa
    Marguerite McNeil
    • Evaas Eva
    Amber Godfrey
    • Dawnas Dawn
    Seamus Morrison
    Seamus Morrison
    • Bobbyas Bobby
    John Fulton
    • Old Irish Copas Old Irish Cop
    Rejean Cournoyer
    • Young Irish Copas Young Irish Cop
    Mauralea Austin
    • Miss Wandaas Miss Wanda
    Kristine Slawter
    • Tall Thin Girlas Tall Thin Girl
    Mary-Colin Chisholm
    Mary-Colin Chisholm
    • Teacher at Public Schoolas Teacher at Public School
    • (as Mary Colin Chisholm)
    Stan Carew
    • New York Times Editoras New York Times Editor
    • Director
      • Peter Levin
    • Writer
      • Ronni Kern
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Based on the true story of Elizabeth "Liz" Murray. The real Liz appeared in the movie as a social worker and was also a co-producer for the production.
    • Quotes

      Liz Murray: I'd give it back, all of it, if I could have my family back.

    • Connections
      Featured in The 55th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (2003)
    • Soundtracks
      Miracle
      Performed by Joanna Pacitti

      Taken from the album "This Crazy Life"

    User reviews31

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    TRULY A TRIUMPH OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT
    Generally, made for television movies are on a level below theatrical endeavors. However, `Homeless To Harvard' is a surprising and welcome exception. Without question it is one of the best made for television movies ever produced. This true story of Liz Murray continually strikes your primal emotional chord throughout the movie. The story is told in a stark realistically convincing manner. Excellent performances are turned in by Jennifer Pisana and Thora Birch as Liz at slightly different ages and by Kelly Lynch as Liz's alcoholic and drug addicted mother Jean. Unfortunately, the world has an ample supply of dysfunctional parents. Most often, their own children use them as an excuse to be equally dysfunctional. How uplifting to have a child use their parent's dysfunctional behavior, not as an excuse to sink into oblivion, but rather as a reason to not follow in their footsteps. This movie is all about choices. Anyone of any age who watches this movie will be left with absolutely no excuse to wallow in self pity. While this movie is a remarkable endeavor, it could have been even better. Understandably you can only fit so much content into a movie. Moreover, I'm certain that the writers included all of the key elements of Liz's life. However, this movie would have stood in a class by itself if only they had delved into Liz's true character. They did an exceptional job of depicting the decadent life that she was subject to, her reactions to it, and her existence within it. However, you don't get to see inside of Liz to actually know what she's all about. In addition, I sensed that we were shown a slightly whitewashed portrait of Liz in contrast to her true self. I suspect that she was in fact a little less innocent and a little more tarnished and troublesome than she was portrayed to be. If there's one unanswered question lingering on viewer's minds, it has to be: Why, after overcoming such insurmountable adversity, did she end up leaving Harvard? All that aside, 'Homeless To Harvard' is truly a triumph of the human spirit movie. This will be a treasured prize for your DVD/VHS collection when it becomes available.
    helpful•20
    1
    • dollarbillsemail
    • Apr 19, 2003

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 7, 2003 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Portuguese
      • Brazilian Sign Language
    • Also known as
      • Безпритульні в Гарварді: історія Ліз Мюррей
    • Filming locations
      • Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Barnet Bain Films
      • Magic Rock Productions
      • Metafilmics
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 44 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
      • Dolby Digital

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