Jack of the Red Hearts (2015)

A teenage con artist tricks a desperate mother into hiring her as a live-in companion for her autistic daughter.

Director:

Janet Grillo

Writer:

Jennifer Deaton

Stars:

AnnaSophia Robb, Famke Janssen, Scott Cohen

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
AnnaSophia Robb	...	Jack (Jacqueline Ferguson)
Famke Janssen	...	Kay Adams
Scott Cohen	...	Mark Adams
Israel Broussard	...	Robert Adams
Taylor Richardson	...	Glory
John D'Leo	...	Dudley
Maria Rivera	...	Daisy
Sophia Anne Caruso	...	Coke (Bethany Ferguson)
Tonye Patano	...	Miz
Donna Kennedy	...	Dr. Molina
Parisa Fitz-Henley	...	Cynthia
Drena De Niro	...	Elizabeth
Ana Maria Jomolca	...	Foster Mother
Gameela Wright	...	Mrs. Maxwell
Briana Marin	...	Scotty's Companion

Storyline

A streetwise teenage runaway is on the lam from her probation officer. Her name is Jacquelyn, but if you call her anything but Jack, she'll cut you. Needing to lay low, earn money, and gain adequate stability to rescue her 11-year-old sister Coke from foster care, Jack cons her way into a suburban home as live-in helper for their autistic 11-year-old daughter, Glory. Much to her surprise, Jack has a unique ability to connect with the nonverbal little girl. As she positively impacts Glory, the family impacts Jack. Particularly Kay, Glory's mother. As these two scrappy survivors find an affinity with each other, Kay finds in Jack a daughter she can talk to. When romantic sparks fly between Jack and Robert, Glory's 17-year-old brother, we see a group of wounded people poignantly and surprisingly begin to heal each other-just a little bit. But the law catches up, the truth comes out, and Jack is forced to make a choice-to save her own hide, or save someone else.

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Plot Keywords:

brother sister relationship | mother son relationship | mother daughter relationship | autism | marriage | 

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Genres:

Drama | Family

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic elements including teen behavior, language, and smoking

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official Instagram

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 May 2015 (USA)

Also Known As:

Джек из Красных сердец

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sundial Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Filming began on June 20 in New York.

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Quotes

Kay Adams: Don't ask me why the order matters, but it does. Okay?

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Connections

Features The Miracle Worker (1962)

User Reviews

Autism and Rebellion

Greetings again from the darkness. Being the parent of an autistic child carries challenges that require incredible patience and love and extraordinary effort. Writer Jennifer Deaton and Director Janet Grillo (Fly Away, 2011) deliver an insightful and interesting look at these challenges through the eyes of two parents, their autistic daughter, their teenage son, and the in-home caregiver they hire.

The film begins with a glimpse of what appears to be two different worlds: a street wise teenage girl helping her younger sister "escape" from a foster home, and two beaten down parents of a young autistic daughter. Soon enough, these two worlds collide and Jack/Jacqueline/Donna is hired by the parents to be a live-in companion for their daughter. The parents are so desperate for help that they fall for the savvy con being played by Donna.

None of what happens is surprising … Donna turns out to have a knack for helping autistic Glory, the parents begin to experience a bit more happiness, the teenage son develops a crush on Donna, and the cloud of truth is constantly hovering. Even though some of the scenes are bit corny, for the most part the story is told in a grounded manner that allows us to connect with all of the characters – conveying the pressures, stress and periodic moments of breakthrough.

The acting is strong throughout. Taylor Richardson (A Most Violent Year) is exceptional as the autistic Glory. She is believable and never goes beyond what fits for the character. Famke Janssen and Scott Cohen are solid as the parents, and Israel Broussard shows real promise as teenage Robert/Bobert. Donna/Jack's younger sister has limited screen time, but Sophia Anne Caruso (Brigitta in TV's live version of The Sound of Music) makes it work. Shouldering much of the film is Anna Sophia Robb (Bridge to Terabithia, The Way Way Back) as Jack/Donna. She does her best work in the second half of the film, as her initial tough-girl stint is a bit shaky. However her scenes with Glory are outstanding, and it's a pleasure to watch her slowly turn over a new leaf.

As strong as the cast is, much of the credit goes to director Grillo (ex-wife of David O. Russell) who has a real understanding of the world of autism, and keeps us focused on importance of family, the need to be loved, and the rewards of finding one's place in the world.