

A career woman reassesses her parents' lives after she is forced to care for her cancer-stricken mother.
Acting
Streep's quiet dignity vs Zellweger's brittle intelligence.
Writing
The novel's nuance survives adaptation surprisingly intact.
Direction
Franklin lets silences scream louder than dialogue.

Director
Carl Franklin
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Based on Anna Quindlen's autobiographical novel; she famously said Streep was the only actress who could play Kate without making her seem pathetic.
The film bombed theatrically but became a stealth hit on cable—predating the 'prestige TV drama' era it actually resembles.