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.

---

Plot Keywords:

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

---

Taglines:

Discover What You Are Made Of

---

Genres:

Biography | Drama | History | Mystery

---

Certificate:

TV-MA

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 April 2017 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Vida Imortal de 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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Based on the book of the same name, by journalist Rebecca Skloot. She was allowed unprecedented access to the Lacks' family in order to write the book.

---

Connections

Features Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002)

---

Soundtracks

If You Want Me to Stay
Written by Sly Stone (as Sylvester Stewart)
Performed by Sly and the Family Stone (as Sly & The Family Stone)
Courtesy of Epic Records
By arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

User Reviews

I had high expectations but was so disappointed

I had high expectations for this movie but was so disappointed with the "Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks". I expected a movie more in the vein of "And The Band Played On" (HBO 1993).

Henrietta Lacks deserved a much stronger depiction of her story. The injustices she received were wrong. Period. Instead, the movie focused more on her descendant family while only fleetingly brushing the injustices she received into the movie.

The folks who wrote and directed the movie should be embarrassed. They had a great opportunity but failed to deliver.