The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (2017)

An African-American woman becomes an unwitting pioneer for medical breakthroughs when her cells are used to create the first immortal human cell line in the early 1950s.

Director:

George C. Wolfe

Writers:

Rebecca Skloot (based on the book written by), Peter Landesman (screenplay by)

Stars:

Renée Elise Goldsberry, Sylvia Grace Crim, Reed Birney

Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy. Another 2 wins & 20 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Renée Elise Goldsberry	...	Henrietta Lacks
Sylvia Grace Crim	...	Mary Kubick
Reed Birney	...	Dr. George Gey
Karen Wheeling Reynolds	...	Mrs. Margaret Gey (as Karen Reynolds)
John C. Vennema	...	Board Administrator
Chasiti Ferrell	...	Baby Deborah
Chelsea Ferrell	...	Baby Deborah
Rose Byrne	...	Rebecca Skloot
Ruben Santiago-Hudson	...	Dr. Roland Pattillo
Oprah Winfrey	...	Deborah Lacks
Jaedon Godley	...	Davon
Rocky Carroll	...	Sonny Lacks
John Douglas Thompson	...	Lawrence Lacks
Roger Robinson	...	Day Lacks
Adriane Lenox	...	Barbara Lacks

Storyline

An African-American woman becomes an unwitting pioneer for medical breakthroughs when her cells are used to create the first immortal human cell line in the early 1950s.

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Plot Keywords:

research | baltimore maryland | hospital | 1950s | cancer | 

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Taglines:

Discover What You Are Made Of

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History | Mystery

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Certificate:

TV-MA

Did You Know?

Trivia

Reg E. Cathey who plays Zachariyya, also portrayed a character in The Wire, which took place in Baltimore, Maryland, same as this movie. HBO also produced The Wire.

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Connections

Featured in The IMDb Show: Take 5 With Moran Atias (2019)

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Soundtracks

Canyon Chase from 'Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron'
(Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002))
Written and Performed by Hans Zimmer
Courtesy of DreamWorks Animation LLC

User Reviews

You will know everything, but Henrietta Lacks!

It's a good biographical drama, but the only problem is its not what exactly the title says. If you believed to learn about Henrietta Lacks and went to see it, you might end disappointingly. Because she was the only topic of the story, not the actual story, except a few glimpses. It is like you watched 'Infamous' or 'Capote', instead of 'In Cold Blood'. That's what like this film. Yet not a bad film.

A writer pursuing the family members of a person who lived in the mid 20th century, because she was a medical phenomenon. Her cells used to treat cancer, despite she had died of cancer, leaving her young kids behind. Her descendants not aware of how things work in the medical research, only misguided by others, finally, set to discover the truth themselves about all the fuss.

It was nominated for the Emmy, but did not win. Oprah was okay, but Rose Byrne impressed me. Except a misleading title, it is a good film, but I really wanted/want to know the Henrietta Lacks. That's funny, because they have told us an unnecessary story. I hope somebody would make a film about actual Henrietta Lacks!

5.5/10

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 April 2017 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

Filming Locations:

Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

HBO Films, Your Face Goes Here Entertainment, Harpo Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1