MY SISTER’S KEEPER

US, 2009, 109 minutes, Colour.
Cameron Diaz, Abigail Breslan, Sofia Vassilieva, Jason Patric, Alec Baldwin, Evan Ellingson.
Directed by Nick Cassavetes.

This family drama takes on some very serious themes. It is based on a novel and its approach is very emotional compared with how these themes might be treated in a documentary. Press notes and quotes state that the film avoids any sentimental treatment but many non-American audiences will beg to differ. This does not mean that US dramas cannot be made like this one – after all, it is part of the culture. Less emotionally-oriented reviewers refuse to make these allowances and are severe with accusations of 'emotional manipulation'. (One London reviewer, female in her 30s reviewer, ended with 'a ghoulishly glossy weepie indulgence that'll have cheap-sentiment junkies wallowing like happy hippos in a mud spa'.)

This means that we have a way of gauging whether we want to see this kind of film or not. My guess is that many 'ordinary' audiences will find the film disturbing, moving and challenging.

We are told immediately by 11 year old Anna (played by that fine child actor, Abigail Breslin) that she was conceived in vitro so that her blood, marrow and organs would be compatible with her older (by three years) sister, Kate (Sofia Vassillieva) who has terminal illnesses and has been kept alive by the donations of her young sister and the relentless determination of her mother. In the background is an older son who suffered from dyslexia when he was young but, like Anna, is usually relegated to support for Kate by their mother. Their aunt stays with the family. The father provides a solid background quietly backing his wife.

The crisis of the film, which simply presents the in vitro situation of Anna and her being available for Kate, is that Anna wants to stop giving. She wants a life of her own. She approaches a lawyer to take her case to a judge so that she has medical independence from her parents.

Early in the film, each character is introduced and speaks their particular point of view, so we have the complexity of the issues, compassion for Kate and a genuine concern for how much Anna has been hospitalises since she was born and what her life prospects are. Most audiences, while acknowledging the strength of maternal love, will baulk at Sara Fitzgerald's single-mindedness. Cameron Diaz gives a completely credible performance. Jason Patric is the quieter father. Alec Baldwin is the lawyer and Joan Cusack is particularly good as the judge in the case.

1.The interest of the film and its appeal? Medical, moral, legal? Emotional?

2.Audiences identifying with the characters, their particular stances, however divergent? Anna, Sarah, Kate?

3.The genre: the illness film, its sadness, the effect of the illness on the patient, on the family? Melodrama/drama? The use of popular songs throughout? Appropriate? The lyrics?

4.The introduction to Anna, her voice-over, the blue sky, her conception in vitro, her purpose for living, her identity and personality? At age eleven, reflecting on being available to her sister from birth for blood, organs? Continually giving? Hospitalisation and illness? Her own life? The dominance of her mother, her mother’s relentlessness? Her father in the background? Jesse and his support? Kate and her illness, their growing up together, Kate getting the attention, how much love did Anna receive from her mother? Her sharing with Katie? Their confiding in each other? Katie’s desire to die, Anna going to the lawyer, the discussions with him, independence medically from her parents? Her mother’s reaction, anger, in the court? Her mother questioning her? The reaction of the judge, the discussions with the judge, her testimony? Her reaction to Jesse’s outburst in court, the truth? The final encounter, her last moments with Kate? The funeral? Finally with her mother, a future? Audience sympathy for her as a person, empathy for her situation, the dilemma of helping her sister or not with the donation of the kidney and its effect on her future life?

5.Kate, born ill, the number of operations, her physical needs? Her dependence on Anna? The quality of her life, her weakness and illness? Her joyfulness? Her scrapbook and all the details of her relationship with her family? The chemotherapy, her hair coming out? Meeting Taylor, discussions with him, sharing with him, the date, shopping for the dress and the humiliation, finding the right dress, going out, all the photos, dancing, hiding with Taylor, the sexual encounter, the next day defying her mother? The effect of Taylor’s death? Her wanting to die, being ready to die? The request to go to the beach, the joy of that day with the family? Her final talk with the family, with her mother? The quality of her life despite her illness? Her readiness to die?

6.Sarah as the lawyer, the mother, her feelings about having given birth to an ill child? Giving up her law practice, devoting her whole life to Kate? Her love for Brian but leaving him to one side? Dominant, relentless, Jesse’s dyslexia and her not being so interested? Her generally ignoring him? Kate and her total attention? The decision to have Anna conceived in vitro? Using her? How much did she love her or not? The arguments with everyone about Kate’s health? Hospitalisation? Her shaving her head in sympathy? Discussions with the doctors, the court case, her anger with Anna, with Campbell Alexander? Confronting him? Issues of the law, issues of morality? The challenge to her single-mindedness? The court, the discussions with the judge, interrogating Anna? Jesse’s outburst, her having to face the truth about her possessiveness? Her reaction to the day at the beach, her anger, wanting to ring the police? Going into shock, resigned at Kate’s death, the final talk with her? The challenge from her sister, Kelly? The funeral? Her going back to work, the change of hair, style, a new life – and a focus on her husband and her children?

7.Brian, fireman, at work, camaraderie with the men, at home, quiet? Agreeing with Sarah, giving himself to full-time concern about his daughter? Taking Kate to the fire station? His talking with Anna and understanding her? His concern about Jesse and the dyslexia, going away to the special school? Sarah accusing him of taking sides, his wanting to understand all the people and the issues concerned? Anna and the court case, his support? Taking Kate to the beach, enjoying it? The reconciliation with Sarah? His interest in Taylor? The end, devoting his work to care for the underprivileged?

8.Jesse, neglected, his dyslexia, a year at school, his feelings, going out in the night, his relationship with Anna and Kate, his father taking him to the hospital, going onto the roof during the trial, his outburst, the truth about Kate’s decision?

9.Kelly, Sarah’s sister, always there, helping, the background, with Kate? Her final argument with Sarah?

10.Campbell Alexander, his advertisements, self-confidence? Winning ninety-one percent of his cases? His dog? Anna going to meet him, the discussions, taking her case? The harsh encounter with Sarah? The law, the judge, in the court, his leaving and the epileptic fit? The reason for his dog? His later visit to tell Anna that the case had been won?

11.The judge, her own experience with the death of her daughter, her grief and breakdown? The hearing, the personal relationship with Sarah? The discussions with Sarah, with Campbell Alexander? The issue of the dog? Her listening, her talking with Anna by herself, visiting Kate in the hospital? The final decision?

12.The doctors at the hospital, their help, prognoses, their care for Kate? Allowing the day at the beach?

13.Taylor, his illness, his friendship with Kate, going out, the dance, sexual relationship? His death?

14.The background of the hospital, authentic, the patients – and many cancer sufferers participating in the film?

15.The moral point? The moral issues? Individuality? In vitro fertilisation and siblings being a medical resource? The legal issues? The emotional effect on the audience? Did the film sufficiently dramatise the particular points of view, even in their contradictions?