Sam, a neurodivergent man, has a daughter with a homeless woman who abandons them when they leave the hospital, leaving Sam to raise Lucy on his own. But as Lucy grows up, Sam's limitations as a parent start to become a problem and the authorities take her away. Sam convinces high-priced lawyer Rita to take his case pro bono and in turn teaches her the value of love and family.
Directed by Jessie Nelson
mentally disabled
foster parents
lawyer
pro bono
social services
coffee shop manager
pizza hut
children's book
locked door
child custody
woman director
father daughter relationship
neurodiversity
Rank
#62 in 2001·#3827 overall
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Letterboxd
3.5 / 5
Where to Watch
Cast
Sean Penn
Sam Dawson
Michelle Pfeiffer
Rita Harrison Williams
Dianne Wiest
Annie Cassell
Dakota Fanning
Lucy Diamond Dawson
Richard Schiff
Mr. Turner
Loretta Devine
Margaret Calgrove
Marin Hinkle
Patricia
Laura Dern
Randy Carpenter
Brad Silverman
Brad
Stanley DeSantis
Robert
Doug Hutchison
Ifty
Bobby Cooper
George
Crew
Jessie Nelson
Director
Jessie Nelson
Screenplay
Kristine Johnson
Screenplay
John Powell
Original Music Composer
Richard Chew
Editor
Elliot Davis
Director of Photography
Jessie Nelson
Producer
Edward Zwick
Producer
Marshall Herskovitz
Producer
Michael De Luca
Executive Producer
Patricia M. Peters
Stunts
Russ Fega
Location Manager
Popular Reviews
559 reviews
kit
6.0★ · 05/11/26
be better
be better
Yassir Amry
6.0★ · 05/10/26
rita should've married with sam yo
rita should've married with sam yo
katarynaPRO
8.0★ · 05/09/26
“how can we feel so different and be so much alike?” i am in tears, it takes a village
“how can we feel so different and be so much alike?” i am in tears, it takes a village
Ric
9.0★ · 05/07/26
ma che stronzo mr Turner. mai fidarsi degli assistenti sociali.
ma che stronzo mr Turner. mai fidarsi degli assistenti sociali.
nalya
7.0★ · 05/01/26
if i wasn’t around people id be bawling but i lowk cry at everything
if i wasn’t around people id be bawling but i lowk cry at everything
