A Melodrama Movie: I Am Sam
Summary of I Am Sam
The movie "I Am Sam," directed by Jessie Nelson, judiciously divulges a very unusual notion through the aura of Sam. The movie is based on a true and emotionally uplifting story of a mentally disabled father with a daughter named Lucy. Rebecca, Sam’s beloved wife, gave birth to a cute little child named Lucy and deserted them. After that, he diligently parented Lucy solo, although he was mentally undeveloped. Time passed, and the father-daughter attachment grew noteworthily, but his condition was also intelligible to Lucy. Later, Lucy is unfortunately taken away from Sam. He hired a prominent lawyer in the city, Rita Harrison. She assured him she would fight for his case pro-bono. Rita learns a crucial life lesson: the value of life and family. Sam and Rita tried hard to win Lucy’s custody, but the opposition lawyer, Mr. Turner, emotionally manipulated Sam into handing over Lucy’s custody for her better upbringing. After losing custody, Lucy was sent to her adoptive family. As a result, Sam was so depressed that he isolated himself in his room. Rita motivated him to fight back because she understood Sam’s pain as she was also a mother. He did not neglect the last chance to bring his daughter back to him, for which he took a house near Lucy’s. Lucy was always delighted to be with Sam, which had drawn the attention of her adoptive mother, Randy. Randy (the foster mother) realizes that Sam truly loves Lucy and is a good parent, so she surrenders Lucy to him. After that, they lived in harmony.
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IMDb: ★ 7.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 🍅36% 🍿86%
Digest Knowledge: ★★★☆☆ 3/5
The Cast of I Am Sam
Sean Penn as Samuel John "Sam" Dawson
The movie "I Am Sam" accurately portrays how a father with an intellectual disability would be treated in today’s society. Sean Penn played an amazingly accurate representation of a father with an intellectual disability trying to maintain custody of his daughter.
Dakota Fanning as Lucy Diamond Dawson
Michelle Pfeiffer as Rita Harrison Williams
Dianne Wiest as Annie Cassell
Laura Dern as Miranda "Randy" Carpenter
Richard Schiff as Mr. Turner
Loretta Devine as Margaret Calgrove
Brad Silverman as Brad
Doug Hutchison as Ifty
Stanley DeSantis as Robert
Joseph Stanley as Joe
Ken Jenkins as Judge Philip McNeily
Caroline Keenan as Rebecca
Chase Mackenzie as Willy Harrison
What I Liked about I Am Sam
In the movie, most of the scenes were soul-stirring. When Lucy was growing up, the father-daughter moments were authentic, adorable, and noticeable. Even when he was permitted to spend two hours with his daughter in the middle of the case, his excitement was gracefully shown in his countenance. After seeing Lucy, Sam’s eyes were numb. As the lawyer, Rita was a mother herself, and she felt the need to fight for Lucy’s custody last time and encouraged Sam. I particularly liked this scene from the movie. Furthermore, the last part of the scenario that I adored was when everyone was overjoyed, enjoying the father-daughter football game while acknowledging that Lucy is the one who needs Sam the most.
What I Disliked about I Am Sam
There were certain aspects of the movie that I did not enjoy, such as Lucy’s decision to choose her father’s love above what she deserved because she was a clever girl who had accepted her father’s instability. However, she eventually revealed to her friends that Sam was not her biological father and that he had adopted her. At that time, she was lying to run from embarrassment because of Sam’s intellectual disability. Furthermore, another aspect of the storyline that I did not like is that when it was time for the last hearing on Lucy’s custody, the opposition lawyer, Mr. Turner, urged Sam in such an emotional way that Sam gave up his daughter’s custody for the sake of her bright future.
Bring love into your life with I Am Sam.
Undoubtedly, the movie portrays the truth that no disabilities are big enough in love. Everyone has imperfections that smoothly draw the line of failing in life, but with the feeling of love, we can get over that line, which is perfect maturity. A father is not defined just by the name of the relationship. Instead, it is defined by the emotion evoked when a father takes his newborn in his arms for the first time and vows to keep the child safe from all dangers for the rest of his life. Everyone has to hold on to the belief that to raise a child, they will practically need financial support and should be mentally developed. Instead, it should be adapted to the child’s sense of proximity.
Similarly, with love, you must provide a place of respect in which it will feel secure. The character, Sam, may not be able to give that financial support to Lucy or take care of her as a typical father, but he could give that immense love that no one could give. Another message of this movie is that no matter what happens, do not fall apart. Every time you fail, muster up the courage to try your best. This is why I would invite everyone to go through this spectacular movie.
“Yeah, you do not know what is like
When you try, and you try, and you try
And you do not ever get there!
Because you were born perfect
And I was born like this.”
- Sam
Film Credit
I Am Sam
Directed by: Jessie Nelson
Written by:
Screenplay: Jessie Nelson and Kristine Johnson
Story: Jessie Nelson
Produced by:
Cathy Schulman
Laurence Mark
Michael London
Bobby Shriver
Denise Jon Chady
Starring:
Sean Penn as Samuel John "Sam" Dawson
Michelle Pfeiffer as Rita Harrison Williams
Dakota Fanning as Lucy Diamond Dawson
Elle Fanning as 2-year-old Lucy
Dianne Wiest as Annie Cassell
Loretta Devine as Margaret Calgrove
Richard Schiff as Mr. Turner
Laura Dern as Miranda "Randy" Carpenter
Music by: Danny Elfman
Cinematography: Pietro Buonavista Guzzi
Film Editing: Sarah Fichtner
Production Design: Wynn Thomas
Costume Design: Kym Barrett
Release Date: December 21, 2001 (United States)
Box Office: $99.7 million