When Lori Reimuller learns that her young son Robbie has epilepsy, she first trusts the judgment of the hospital staff in how best to bring it under control. As Robbie's health slides radically downhill, however, she becomes frustrated and desperate, and so does her own research into the existing literature on treatments. When she decides to try an alternative treatment called the Ketogenic Diet, devised long ago by a doctor from Johns Hopkins, she is met with narrow-minded resistance from Robbie's doctor, who is prepared to take legal action to prevent Lori from removing him from the hospital.
Acting
Streep's ferocious maternal desperation is absolutely gutting
Writing
Jim Abrahams wrote from personal experience—his son's epilepsy inspired this
Production
Shot on real locations with authentic medical detail
Director
Jim Abrahams
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The ketogenic diet was developed in the 1920s but fell out of favor with the rise of anticonvulsant drugs; this film helped spark its revival.
Director Jim Abrahams, known for Airplane! and Hot Shots!, made this after his son Charlie's epilepsy was cured by the diet—he founded the Charlie Foundation to promote it.
CA
US
