One day Sammy and his younger sister Ellie happen upon a cabin where Alice, a young, partially deaf girl with epilepsy is being kept by her abusive stepfather. The three soon become friends and hope to get Alice an education and help her escape from the torture she undergoes daily. However, Alice's stepfather soon finds out about the friendship Alice has struck up and punishes her brutally. This story of friendship and youth shows that everyone is human and deserves to be treated so, no matter their disability or weakness.
Acting
Arquette's wordless pain; Witherspoon's fierce little sister energy.
Direction
Keaton's first and only feature—surprisingly unsentimental.
Director
Diane Keaton
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Reese Witherspoon was 14 in her film debut; she reportedly cried real tears in every take because she was so nervous acting opposite Beau Bridges.
The film was largely forgotten until 2017, when critics revisited it as an early example of Hollywood attempting disability representation—flawed but earnest, and notably directed by a woman at a time when few were.
US
