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From Amazon.co.uk
Based on the bestselling novel of the same name, The Memory Keeper's Daughter is an emotional drama dealing with a family secret that eventually destroys a family. David (Dermot Mulroney) and Norah (Gretchen Mol) are the perfect couple; he is a highly regarded physician and she is his beautiful, young, blond wife. Unable to get his wife to the hospital during a blizzard, David delivers their twins himself. A boy is born first--pink, ruddy, and healthy--but the baby girl is a "mongoloid" who has Down Syndrome. There's a saying that some doctors suffer from a God complex, and it would seem that David is one of them; instead of sharing the news with his wife after she wakes up, he makes the decision that he will tell her that only their son survived. He orders his nurse Caroline (Emily Watson) to take his daughter to an institution. There is a feeling of unrest and uncertainty as the characters sense that something isn't quite right. Norah, who never got to say goodbye to her baby, has never been able to get closure and is in a constant state of grieving. David lives with the guilt of what he has done, but doesn't really think he did anything wrong. Even their son feels that something is missing from his life. Caroline, who had always been a loner, winds up having the most complete life. Defying David's orders, she takes the little girl, Phoebe, and runs away with her to raise the girl as her own. At turns poignant and at other times maudlin, The Memory Keeper's Daughter offers some excellent acting by the leads. Watson in particular shows depth and compassion. To a certain extent, she is the moral compass of the film, but she also is the film's heart. --Jae-Ha Kim
Product Description
In 1964, Dr. David Henry (Dermot Mulroney, Zodiac) separated his daughter from her twin brother to hide the daughter's Down Syndrome from his wife. Entrusting the baby to a nurse (Emily Watson, The Water Horse), David cut off all contact to focus on his wife (Gretchen Mol, 3:10 to Yuma) and his son. Over the next 25 years, his disabled daughter grows into a beautiful adult while David watches the rest of his family fall apart, knowing he can never reveal his darkest secret.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By J. Mcfadden
Format:DVD
I read this book recently and thoroughly enjoyed it. I wasn't even aware it was a movie but I found it through conversation and on-demand. The film adaptation keeps quite close to the story with some changes, as expected. Good cast, good performances and thankfully lacking any real hollywood stuff. I would recommend both the book (ok moreso the book) and the film...and a big box of hankies!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Cloggie Downunder
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:DVD
This movie is based on the novel by Kim Edwards of the same title. The story is set in the 1960s and involves a doctor, David Henry, whose wife, Norah, goes into labour during a snowstorm. Unable to get to the hospital, he takes her to his surgery, where his nurse, Caroline Gil, assists with the birth. Norah delivers twins, a boy, Paul, and a girl, Phoebe: the boy is perfect, the girl is obviously mongoloid. Convinced that his wife will be unable to cope with their daughter's disability, he tells Caroline to take Phoebe to a children's home, and later tells his wife the baby did not survive. Caroline, unable to bring herself to leave Phoebe as instructed, takes her away to another town and decides to bring her up as her own daughter. This is a very moving tale, which loses none of its impact by being made into a movie. Whilst a movie can never totally encompass a book's content, the movie plot is quite faithful to the book. Casting is excellent, especially Emily Watson as Caroline and Krytsal Hope Nausbaum as Phoebe.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By S. Stolfa
Format:DVD
This is a thoughtful movie, and handles human failings forgivingly in its characters, which to me made it very enjoyable.
It's real drama, understated rather than 'in your face' and with complex rather than stereotyped or simplistic characters,
and similarly complex relationships. It also gives an insight about dark aspects of life in the 60s, reminding one that
some things have greatly improved since then!
Dermot Mulroney and Emily Watson are brilliant in their roles and, given the theme of disintegration which runs through
the story, the focus yet manages to stay on generosity and personal integrity. The film therefore leaves you with a feeling
of hope, so often missing from more intrinsically negative narratives. It also avoids the pitfall of cynicism
in an attempt to be sophisticated, and I loved it for that.
Why 4, rather than 5 stars? Well, 4 1/2 would be nearer the point. The film is great, but maybe its pace (of storytelling)
is just a touch ponderous in places. Don't let that put you off!
It's real drama, understated rather than 'in your face' and with complex rather than stereotyped or simplistic characters,
and similarly complex relationships. It also gives an insight about dark aspects of life in the 60s, reminding one that
some things have greatly improved since then!
Dermot Mulroney and Emily Watson are brilliant in their roles and, given the theme of disintegration which runs through
the story, the focus yet manages to stay on generosity and personal integrity. The film therefore leaves you with a feeling
of hope, so often missing from more intrinsically negative narratives. It also avoids the pitfall of cynicism
in an attempt to be sophisticated, and I loved it for that.
Why 4, rather than 5 stars? Well, 4 1/2 would be nearer the point. The film is great, but maybe its pace (of storytelling)
is just a touch ponderous in places. Don't let that put you off!
By Nancy
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have watched this film 4 times and will watch it again at some stage It was cruel in one respect what the doctor did but as the film unfolds understandable.
By taffodil
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This needs to be more than 5 star. I have read the book which is out of this world and watching the film of it is even better
By budgie
Format:DVD
very good film.it was a gift for my mother & she loved it.give us more film as good as this
By Gajet
Format:DVD
Very touching story, but the lesson here is....never judge a book by the film.
Read the book first to get the real impact of the situation.
Read the book first to get the real impact of the situation.
By Margaret
Format:DVD
Bought the book as a present by request and saw this DVD so purchased it at the same time. Recipient pleased with the two together but not had feedback yet on actual products.(Hoping to have them passed on for my pleasure too!)
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3.8 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Memory Keeper's Daughter
I bought my mum the book, and when I saw a DVD had come out, I bought it. The film stayed pretty close to the book, with a couple of differences, but these did not detract from... Read more
Published on 12 April 2010 by Bamburghbabe
1.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointing
I read the book and was blown away, so when I found out there was a movie out there I ran to the shop and bought it. I was so excited about it!! Read more
Published on 26 Sep 2009 by Sophia DaRosa
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