I AM SAM
US, 2001, 132 minutes, Colour.
Sean Penn, Michelle Pfeiffer, Dakota Fanning, Dianne Wiest, Loretta Devine, Richard Schiff, Laura Dern, Brad Silverman.
Directed by Jessie Nelson.
Today's headlines are filled with problems about children and about family. Here is a Hollywood film, full of feeling, which looks at children and family and takes a positive stance on life and values. Because Americans tend to wear their hearts on their sleeves, some audiences may find this film overly emotional. But it would be a pity to miss the message.
The title of the film comes from the ending of a Dr Seuss story that Sam likes to read over and over to his young daughter, Lucy. However, this is no ordinary father and daughter relationship. Sam has the mental age of a child of seven. A chance, ignorant encounter with a stranger has resulted in the birth of Lucy. Her mother abandons her instantly and disappears. Sam is a loving father and manages to raise his daughter with help from a housebound neighbour (Diane Weist), the support of his boss at Starbucks where he waits on tables and four of his equally disabled friends. Lucy is cared for with love and tenderness and grows into a charming and intelligent seven year old.
It comes to the attention of welfare that Sam is not able to cope with his daughter and that she is deliberately holding back at school so that she will not become more intelligent than her father. What follows is Sam's struggle with the courts to persuade them that he is a good father and can offer his daughter the love she needs.
The early part of the film shows a great deal of Sam and Lucy. I think some of the audience were more than a little uncomfortable watching someone so obviously limited being what to the outsider might seem an awkward and childish father. But Sean Penn's intense performance gradually draws us in so that we understand Sam better and feel for his pain at losing Lucy.
At this point the film introduces a character who is the exact opposite of Sam: his lawyer. As played by Michelle Pfeiffer, she is tough and ambitious on the surface but vulnerable deep down. She has a seven year old son who cannot relate to her and whom she resents. She is shamed into taking on Sam's case pro bono and this begins for her a letting go of her frantic and busy lifestyle in order to understand people better.
While sentiment is on Sam's side, the court scenes are written to help the audience see how strong the arguments are that Sam cannot help educate Lucy in the way that an ordinary girl needs to grow. We are forced to ask ourselves what is the best for Lucy, a caring foster family who will help her grow into a well-balanced and educated woman, or a loving father who has been father and mother to his daughter despite his limitations.
Dakota Fanning is perfectly cast as the seven year old who is superior to her father but loves and depends on him. She has gone on to prove herself one of the most talented of child stars. The West Wing’s Richard Schiff stands out as Sam’s weary and dedicated prosecutor. Laura Dern is Lucy’s adoptive mother.
Director Jessie Nelson brings a feminine perspective to her story. Her previous films and writing show her preoccupation with themes of contemporary families: Corinna, Corinna, Stepmom and The Story of Us.
The film would be over the head of young children, although they could identify with Lucy, but I Am Sam would repay discussion between parents and older children.
1. Audience response to the film? The characters, their situations? Disabilities? Mental limitations? A Hollywood film – feeling and sentiment?
2. The Starbucks background, the placements? The streets, homes, school, the courts and offices, foster homes? The musical score?
3. The title, the quote from Dr Seuss? As spoken by Sam?
4. The Starbucks sequence, the boss, Sam hurrying through the streets, the hospital, the birth of the child, the mother not wanting the child, the casual encounter with Sam? The bus stop? Sam and the baby? The background for the rest of the film? Lucy, called after the Beatles song?
5. Lucy at age 7? The importance of Annie as the agoraphobic neighbour, friendship with Sam, her continued care for Lucy, affection?
6. Sam at work, the customers, support, his four friends, their disabilities? He learning about food, at work, leaving Lucy at home, the care?
7. The years passing, Sam and his coping, practical abilities yet with the mental age of seven? Talking with Lucy, the differences, Lucy and her going to school, playing with the children, the arrogant student and his father, her talking and reading, school preparation? The effect on Sam, on her, her realisation of her abilities compared with her father? The drawings? The teachers, helping her? Her not wanting to be better than Sam?
8. Sam, the encounter on the street, the police taking him in, not believing him, holding him against his will? The social worker, concern? The courts? The decision that Sam was not able to look after Lucy, the effect on each of them?
9. Lucy, taken away, the foster home, the father? Going to the courts? Randy and her looking after Lucy? The planned escape? Randy talking with Lucy, trying to cope, talking with Sam? Sam bringing Lucy back? Randy’s testimony in his favour?
10. The four friends, their background, conversation, the video, quotations?
11. The phone call, Sam going to the office, the interview with Rita? Her reactions? Her personality, brusque, her home situation, her philandering husband, separation or not? Clashes with her son? The decision to take on the case, pro bono, the effect on her?
12. The discussions with Sam, the interviews, and his reaction, the Starbucks people? Sam, Rita, making the coffee? Rita priming Sam, the rehearsals? The suit and the splash?
13. Rita in court, prosecutor, the judge, the arguments, the attack on Sam, humiliating him, hurtful expressions? The decision?
14. Sam at home, the son and the attack, the absent husband, Sam’s observations for Rita? Her decision and the aftermath?
15. Randy, the reality of the situation?
16. The audience having to look at the objective facts and the principles? At the human and humane dimension?
17. A satisfying finale, sport, Sam, Lucy, Randy and Rita and her son?
