I love this movie. It is very dear to my heart, because she is just like my sister, Marni. My parents hospitalized her for three years, but they couldn't afford it so they brought her back home. And my parents have cried every day since.
3 Reviews
Good special
tvalways25 May 2019
Warning: Spoilers
I just finished watching this... I was hesitant at first because I knew the dreaded R word would be used considering the content and time period it was made (only 1x or 2x that I caught it if the word offends anyone else like it does me).. And I was unsure how the special needs person would be portrayed and if their family would reject her. I'm mixed on both counts.
The father ended up moving out after he yelled at her causing her to pee on herself, it was for the best. She didn't deserve to be yelled at and shamed by him, so good riddance Dad if you ask me... The brother's mix of acceptance and rejection was sorta understandable but hard to take sometimes, I am a sibling of a special needs brother myself. The mom got the most sympathy from me. She had patience, love, and acceptance. But I was mad at her for using the R word and for not blaming her husband for leaving. Yes it was for the best like I said, but he definitely should have had more patience and acceptance. Geez, how was he when the son was in his terrible 2's?! Geraldine was a sweetheart, she got into trouble a lot simply because she didn't know better. It's sad that she is treated and viewed as a burden. She deserved better.
Overall I think it did a good job bringing to light what can happen in deinstitutionalizing a child.
The father ended up moving out after he yelled at her causing her to pee on herself, it was for the best. She didn't deserve to be yelled at and shamed by him, so good riddance Dad if you ask me... The brother's mix of acceptance and rejection was sorta understandable but hard to take sometimes, I am a sibling of a special needs brother myself. The mom got the most sympathy from me. She had patience, love, and acceptance. But I was mad at her for using the R word and for not blaming her husband for leaving. Yes it was for the best like I said, but he definitely should have had more patience and acceptance. Geez, how was he when the son was in his terrible 2's?! Geraldine was a sweetheart, she got into trouble a lot simply because she didn't know better. It's sad that she is treated and viewed as a burden. She deserved better.
Overall I think it did a good job bringing to light what can happen in deinstitutionalizing a child.
Insulting
Jordan_Haelend2 June 2005
Warning: Spoilers
This TV movie purports to be the story of a little "Special" child, but it's actually about her family and how their decision to pull her from an institution and bring her home virtually wrecks the family unit.
As portrayed by Hall, the girl is the very image of the demeaning stereotype of a "retarded" child. She bangs her head in frustration, babbles nonsense syllables and makes a compete nuisance of herself. From hiding her brother's homework to interrupting his piano lessons to destroying his chances at the talent show to urinating on the floor to finally causing dad to leave the family and nearly causing her brother to follow him, the girl provides proof that some people NEED to be institutionalized- and left there.
As portrayed by Hall, the girl is the very image of the demeaning stereotype of a "retarded" child. She bangs her head in frustration, babbles nonsense syllables and makes a compete nuisance of herself. From hiding her brother's homework to interrupting his piano lessons to destroying his chances at the talent show to urinating on the floor to finally causing dad to leave the family and nearly causing her brother to follow him, the girl provides proof that some people NEED to be institutionalized- and left there.
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