She was born to save her sister
Thirty minutes into the movie, my friend beside me was bawling her eyes out already.
About 15 minutes later, the other person next to me was sniffling away.
Bloody hell!
My Sister’s Keeper was based on the best selling novel of the same name by Jodi Picoult. I’ve read the book, I knew what I was in for and I have been warned that it’s a major tear-jerker.
Watch the trailer here.
Anna Fitzgerald (Abigail Breslin) was conceived through In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) and genetically picked so that she would be compatible to her dying sister, Kate (Sofia Vassilieva) who has Leukaemia. She went through surgeries after surgeries right from the moment she was born – umbilical cells, bone marrow, blood cells and the list goes on. Then, at the age of 11, her sister’s kidney failed so she gave Kate one of her kidneys. At that point, she decided to sue her parents for medical emancipation. They all know that Kate is going to die, but their mother, Sara (Cameron Diaz), would not accept the fact and Kate’s survival is the only thing on her mind.
It wasn’t exactly a major tear-jerker, but I must admit that whoever sits through that movie without shedding a tear has got to be pretty inhumane. I adored the book and I was crossing all my fingers that the movie wouldn’t disappoint and it sure didn’t. From Diaz’s portrayal of a desperate mother trying to save her dying daughter to Breslin’s superb acting of a strong, supportive sister, it’s hard not to feel connected to them. What stood out the most was Vassilieva’s raw and honest depiction of a very sick, dying girl.
I must say that I was a tad bit annoyed by the editing at the beginning of the film and I had doubt about Nick Cassevetes because I thought The Notebook was a bit overrated. It was too idealistic to my liking; however, in this one he was spot on. The script, the acting and the cinematography really makes you think, ‘What would I do, if I lived a life knowing that everyday could be my last day’.
Towards the end, there was a scene where there was no dialogue, only soft background music and you could hear the people sniffling, sobbing, coughing and see shadows of people moving their hands to their faces.
Before it turns into a movie of just tears and sobs, there were quite a number of funny parts in it as well. Overall, I must say it was a very honest and powerful movie, and I would definitely watch it again.
Definitely a 3/4 stars for me.
EC