My Sister's Keeper (Ma vie pour la tienne)

This movie is based on Jodi Picoult's bestselling novel of the same title. The story begins with Anna Fitzgerald seeing a lawyer, Campbell Alexander, to sue her parents for the right to her own body. Anna was conceived to provide (initially) cord blood for her older sister Kate who has leukaemia. As she has grown up and as Kate's disease has progressed, more and more has been demanded of Anna's body for her sister. While a movie can never encompass all the content of a book, many of the main issues were covered in this film. Fans of the book will, however, very likely be disappointed with the ending: the twist that gave Picoult `s book the perfect ending was changed to a more Hollywood ending. Another drawback was the absence of one of Picoult's delightful humour devices in the book: all the purposes that Campbell comes up with for his dog, Judge. It also misses completely the angst of Anna and Kate's older brother, Jesse, as his life is put on hold for his sister. If you haven't read the book, you may well enjoy this movie. If you have read the book, only watch it if you don't mind Picoult's perfect ending being tampered with.

Like the stubborn curmudgeon I am, I keep thinking that with each viewing of MY SISTER'S KEEPER I will finally be able to keep the emotions this film releases at arm's length and watch the movie strictly on its merits. What an idiot I am. Having viewed this film numerous times, I am just as emotionally moved--and drained--as I was when I first saw it in the cinema--when I sat a few rows back from a distraught teen girl who sobbed hysterically during the last half hour.

Sure, there are countless movies about disease, suffering, familial conflict, and death; so why does MY SISTER'S KEEPER strike such a resolute emotional chord? For me, it has to do with the five members of the Fitzgerald family; not only are they totally believable--in their actions and interactions--but they connect with the audience, and the film respects each character enough to allow him or her to be fully vetted and explored. The plot is, quite simply, titanic: Anna (Abigail Breslin), an 11-year-old girl who is a test tube baby brought into the world to donate body parts for her cancer-stricken sister, Kate (Sofia Vassilieva), suddenly retains an attorney (Alec Baldwin in, for once, a very likable role) to sue for medical emancipation from her parents, Sara and Brian (Cameron Diaz and Jason Patric). Of course the lawsuit throws the Fitzgeralds into further disarray, yet the story moves along beautifully despite all the conflict and turmoil, especially in the form of numerous flashbacks that serve to fill in the blanks for a family ultimately bonded--however dysfunctionally--through love.

I was, and am, extraordinarily moved by this film, whether it be via Anna's yearning for innocence lost, Brian's remarkable love and devotion to all of his family, brother Jesse's (Evan Ellingson) inner turmoil, or Sara's profound determination to save her daughter's life--no matter what the cost to the rest of the family. Through the depictions of these characters we forget we are watching a film; instead we feel we are privy to a front row seat as the Fitzgeralds struggle through an experience that can either bring them all together--or drive them forever apart. As compelling as it is poignant, MY SISTER'S KEEPER is an exceptional examination of human interaction and tragedy, with a silver lining of love and recollection. By all means, please see this movie.
--D. Mikels, Author, The Reckoning

Strange film, and at the same time, astonishing! I haven't read the book, but the movie is great. Definitely, not for everyone. This is one of those movies that make you think and reflect on issues of live an death. If you want a movie just for the sake of watching a movie, look elsewhere. There's No violence, no sex, no drugs, no killing sprees,no shootings, no terrorists, no bombs going off, no gore, no torn-out limbs, no cars crashing, etc, etc, etc. If this is what you are looking for, there's plenty of movies to choose from. This one is only for mature thinking people who comprehend psychological plots, end-of-live topics and the implications (and dangers) of screwing around with genes for "medical or therapeutical" purposes. It can be considered as a masterpiece on the bio-ethical implications of gene manipulation, and messing around with the natural order! If this is your kind of movie, I recommend also: "Mar Adentro", "Tuesdays with Morrie", "Wit" (although a tad boring), and "Godsend" I also recommend reading a book called "The private world of dying children" from Myra Bluebond-Langer. An excellent insight to how children percieve the end of their lives and all that goes around them from a bio-psycho-social and spiritual point of view.
If you are a health care worker and especially working with kids with life threatening illnesses, this movie is a Must See. It is a well worth investment.