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Two Mothers for Zachary

  • TV Movie
  • 1996
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
457
YOUR RATING
Valerie Bertinelli, Colleen Flynn, and Adam Rehmann in Two Mothers for Zachary (1996)
Drama

A grandmother sues her own daughter for custody of her grandson Zachary, because she believes that her daughter's homosexuality renders her unfit for motherhood. Based on a real custody batt... Read allA grandmother sues her own daughter for custody of her grandson Zachary, because she believes that her daughter's homosexuality renders her unfit for motherhood. Based on a real custody battle.A grandmother sues her own daughter for custody of her grandson Zachary, because she believes that her daughter's homosexuality renders her unfit for motherhood. Based on a real custody battle.

  • Director
    • Peter Werner
  • Writer
    • Linda Voorhees
  • Stars
    • Valerie Bertinelli
    • Vanessa Redgrave
    • Colleen Flynn
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.6/10
    457
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Peter Werner
    • Writer
      • Linda Voorhees
    • Stars
      • Valerie Bertinelli
      • Vanessa Redgrave
      • Colleen Flynn
    • 25User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win total

    Photos

    Top Cast31

    Edit
    Valerie Bertinelli
    Valerie Bertinelli
    • Jody Ann Shaffell
    Vanessa Redgrave
    Vanessa Redgrave
    • Nancy Shaffell
    Colleen Flynn
    Colleen Flynn
    • Maggie Fergus
    James Gammon
    James Gammon
    • Chalmer
    Michael Marich
    • Robert Lee
    Kim Dickens
    Kim Dickens
    • Nancy
    Brett Brock
    Brett Brock
    • Keith Kinchloe
    Cynthia Dorn
    • Nurse Smoot
    Tony Frank
    Tony Frank
    • Ben Delaney
    Barbara George-Reiss
    • Beth
    Sheila Gordon
    • Process Server
    Alexandria Hunter
    • Lily Delaney
    • (as Alex Hunter)
    Bill Kaiser
    • County Clerk
    Barbara Lasater
    • Pat Kinchloe
    Dennis Letts
    Dennis Letts
    • Judge Crawford
    Marietta Marich
    • Melba
    Brian McGuire
    Brian McGuire
    • Dwayne
    Randy Means
    • Harlan
    • Director
      • Peter Werner
    • Writer
      • Linda Voorhees
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews25

    6.6457
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    Featured reviews

    10labrat-8

    Sad, astonished and downright fuming

    I've just finished seeing this movie for the first time on TV. All the way through I simply could not believe that time and again such decisions were made purely on the basis of the judge's homophobic bias. I kept waiting for someone to stand up and declare the obvious - that it was wrong to deprive a loving, caring mother of her child simply because some bigots don't approve of who she loves.

    What amazed me most of all was that at the very start of the movie we were told that grandparents had no legal entitlement to visitation in Virginia. So it was appalling to me that even though there was no basis in law for granting custody to Jody Ann's appalling mother, simply because of a judge's personal bias custody was granted. It makes a mockery of the law and of the US legal system.

    I came on here hoping to find that in the eight years since the movie was made commonsense and justice had prevailed and that Jody Ann had finally gotten to bring up her son in a loving, caring, nuturing home. But sadly it seems that bigots still rule in the good IL' US of A.

    It also astonished me that no one thought to ask why the grandmother was insisting on the child calling her 'mamma'. This surely confuses the child and is a clear indication that the grandmother's motives aren't in the child's best interests but her own. Clearly, she wanted the child for herself from the start and her daughter's new lifestyle was just an excuse.

    I was enraged by Jody Ann's brother and 'best friend'. Both of whom betrayed her and lied on the stand, simply because they were angry that she had chosen to love another woman. They should be ashamed of themselves.

    All in all, a sad, depressing indictment of America, of its intolerance for those who don't fit the 'mom's apple pie' image and the grip the raving rightwing lobby has on this country.

    I wish Jody Ann all the best. I am sure that when her son is grown and is able to understand the manipulations of his grandmother and the injustices done to his mother he will choose to be with her again.
    jerryspringerfan1

    the system is wrong

    I've seen this movie several times,and it always makes me angry when it comes to the scene of the grandmother and the policeman yanking the little boy out of his mothers arms.i really wished i had been there during that scene,i wanted to tell jodys meddling mother exactly what i thought of her.i didn't think the court system was fair to her,her sexual orientation is nooone else's business,what did that have to do with raising her son?the state of virginia needs to have their laws changed,next thing you know,theyll be taking kids out of their homes because the parents play monopoly or something.the virginia legal system really stinks.i hope she eventually got her son back.
    8carls_pra

    sweet but sad

    This was shown on channel 5 in england on 5/9/03 and channel 5 not normally being a very good channel i was going to skip this movie, even though it sounded quite 'interesting'. But then I decided i was going to watch it and i was glad that I did. I felt so sorry for Jodi in the way that her mother is basically a Nazi German commander! And Zachary was so sweet. This movie really pulled at my heartstrings and I'm normally a hard hearted person! Made for TV movies aren't normally great, but I really quite liked this film and I'd watch it again. I'd quite like to know what happened in the end though! The character of Maggie Fergus was a good and likeable character too, I liked her fiery and funny nature.
    the_urban_milkwoman

    Fantastic film it's my favourite

    This is the best film I have ever seen. For some reason I can't find it to buy on video or DVD but I have it taped twice and watch it most weekends. The acting is all great with the possible slight exception of vanessa redgrave's accent. The story is very sad but America seems rather backward in accepting homosexuality and this portrayal is a great way of telling people that the situation needs to change. 10/10.
    8xavrush89

    Watch this and maybe you'll get mad enough to vote.

    Even if you don't already know the outcome of this, you are bound to get fired up! And you should. It is more relevant than ever today, with Congress trying to pass a Constitutional Amendment, not only stating that some relationships are more valid than others, but making it so that no one can even be allowed to think otherwise! Maybe it's just the script, but this movie makes it look as of the mother is not so much against her daughter's relationship, as she is using the state courts' bigotry to get back at her daughter for not letting her be as much a part of raising the child as she'd like. As bad as it seems, the real case is worse. But this is a great movie to watch if you need a reminder of why we have separation of church and state, and why we're in danger of losing it.

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    Related interests

    Naomie Harris, Mahershala Ali, Janelle Monáe, André Holland, Herman Caheej McGloun, Edson Jean, Alex R. Hibbert, and Tanisha Cidel in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Valerie Bertinelli had learned of the case years earlier when she appeared on an episode of Larry King Live on which the actual mother, Sharon Bottoms, also appeared.
    • Quotes

      Maggie Fergus: If you have any change left over, could you get me a cherry slushy?

      Jody Ann Schaffel: You know, you really should have something healthy, something green!

      Maggie Fergus: OK, then, make it a lime slushy.

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 22, 1996 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • For the Love of Zachary
    • Filming locations
      • Austin, Texas, USA
    • Production companies
      • Avenue Pictures
      • Hallmark Entertainment
      • RHI Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 36m(96 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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