Some movies that have a very serious message to tell are better then others. Why? The way the message is told makes the biggest difference, and the way it's filmed.
The movie shows a very real issue that affects many people in the world. But the way it showed the message almost comes off a little boring and overloaded. In the film we follow Sally Goodson who is played by the wonderful actress Kristie Alley. The film shows her everyday challenges and how her relationship with her son has affected her life in every way. It shows the hardships, sacrifices and extraordinary love a mother endures to take care of her autistic son. It doesn't sugar coat anything. And I think by not glazing over the truth of how difficult it is and how it can affect a person, along side the hard choices that need to be made, it makes the movie to overbearing for the viewer.
The message was well laid out. It shows the life of a mother who is trying to care for her autistic child in the best way she knows how. It also shows the faults she has made in her life by having flash-backs to the past of her first marriage, and how she has given up on her own life, but instead dedicates all of herself to her son. It shows the imbalance in this woman's life and how she finds that balance. The movie has a simple plot. It's not a family film and its not eye candy either. It's a powerful movie that shows the very real struggles in the lives of people trying to raise an autistic child.
The movie has a great cast and Kristie Alley gave a phenomenal performance. Unfortunately the quality of the film is well below standards. Great message, but too serious/real for my own personal taste.
