The Memory Keeper's Daughter

It's 1964 in Lexington, Kentucky. Dr. David Henry (Dermot Mulroney) drive his pregnant wife Norah (Gretchen Mol) to the hospital. He and nurse Caroline Gil (Emily Watson) deliver healthy son Paul. They are surprised by twin Phoebe who turns out to have Down Syndrome. He lies to Norah that she died and gives the baby to nurse Gil. He instructs Gil to put her in an institution expecting her to die but Gil decides to raise the baby herself due to witnessing the draconian conditions.

It's a Lifetime TV movie. It tackles an interesting subject and a girl with Down Syndrome gets to act. These are solid actors but the story doesn't have enough tension. I don't find the Henrys that compelling. Their part of the story feels meandering. I like Gil's side better but that isn't the most dramatic either. I would rather have a bigger time skip like 12 years later. The story could easily pick up when the two sides reconnect. It's more compelling that way because the danger of discovery is heightened.

Dermot Mulroney and Emily Watson are appealing in this sad film.

It deals with a spur of the moment decision that has a lasting impact on the lives of several people throughout a 22 year period.

When his wife gives birth to twins, the boy is normal but the girl has Down's Syndrome. In a moment of misery, Mulroney tells his wife that the girl died in childbirth. He gives the baby to Nurse Watson with the instructions for her to bring the child to a home. When Watson sees the conditions in the home, she flees with the baby. Meeting a stranger in a snowstorm, she runs off to Pittsburgh with the baby and weds.

The film shows that the "Down Child" had a perfectly normal life whereas the boy along with Mulroney and his unfaithful wife, encounter nothing but misery along the way.

We should realize that it would take a death for everything to come out and this is exactly what occurs.

Watson is just wonderful as the compassionate, understanding nurse who gave so much of herself to the child.

This was a wonderful film and should not be missed.

What a beautiful movie. Great acting. Tearjerker for sure. I actually have watched it several times. I would highly recommend watching it with a box of tissues near by.

This is truly a heartbreaking tale about the mother of two twins, there is tragedy involved but all works out fine. Great performances by cast members with a nice surprise at the end. Wonderful storyline, I would watch it over again.

I first saw this film today 12th November 09, and liked it. I felt sorry for the mother who is told that her baby daughter had died but the husband didn't want a down syndrome child, thinking that she might no live to adulthood, as some didn't back then but to just tell the nurse to take her to a home is a bit sad he could have taken a chance, as so many children like that are loving.. at the least the nurse gave her a good home, but it left him feeling guilty for over, 20 years to what he has done. but his wife wanted more children and he didn't I suppose he was frightened that another child would end up like his daughter.. over all this is a great movie and shows the viewers what it was like in the 1960s to have a down syndrome child.