Saving Milly

My wife and I caught the movie when it was repeated the other day. I never heard of the movie or Milly. We were flipping channels and since I like Madeline Stowe decided to watch. Fascinating movie with extraordinary performances by Bruce Greenwood and Madeline Stowe. Sometimes touching and sometimes hard to watch as Milly begins to show signs of Parkinson's this movie is a winner. Madeline Stowe deserves an Emmy for her performance. After the movie Michael J. Fox makes a plea for Parkinson's research. This movie will definitely open a lot of eyes on how important it is to find a cure. Definitely worth seeing again and again.

This is a true-story of Milly Kondrake, a political activist who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.Her husband, Mort, tells her story in the congress.In the 60's, Mort is a young journalist who falls for Milly Martinez, a Vassar graduate, who is part-Mexican, part-Catholic and part-Jewish.After a few difficulties they get married.In 1987 she finds some weird symptoms in her.She finds a change in her handwriting and there's some tremor.At the age of 47 she becomes diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.Her husband stays by her side, trying to do anything in saving Milly.Dan Curtis is the director Saving Milly (2005).It's based on Morton Kondrake's book.Madeleine Stowe is amazing as Milly.First she is this young woman filled with joy for life, and then she becomes this aging woman with a terrible disease who wants to die.Bruce Greenwood is terrific portraying her husband Mort with all his flaws, including alcoholism.Robert Wisden is great as Fred Barnes.Claudia Ferri is very good as Norma Alvarado.Rob LaBelle plays Mark, and he's good.This is a good TV movie about an important topic.Also Michael J. Fox, who has Parkinson's, is seen in this movie.We see his famous speech he gave in the congress.It's most touching to see him talking straight to the camera in the end.He says how practically nothing has been done in finding cure for Parkinson's disease.But Michael is hopeful.And so am I.

"Saving Milly" is the true story of Milly Martinez Kondracke's courageous battle with Parkinson's disease. It is clear from this carefully wrought television film that the producers, director, designers, and actors deeply cared about the project. The outstanding actress Madeleine Stowe plays the role of Milly, who was a caretaker in her family and a political activist before her life was cut short with an extreme form of Parkinson's. There is a luminous quality to Madeleine Stowe's emotionally wrenching performance, especially in the director's close-ups. Bruce Greenwood is also excellent in his role as Milly's husband, the journalist Mort Kondracke. After she had helped him to conquer alcoholism, he rises to the occasion to care for Milly and lobby for greater funding in Parkinson's research. The film hit the right balance between a touching family drama and a strong social statement which raises consciousness about this deadly disease. This was a heartfelt and moving film experience and one that should inspire more awareness and funding in the search for a cure for Parkinson's disease.

As the movie begins, Mort Kondracke is shown testifying before a Senate committee in 2000. As he describes his life with Milly, we see them meeting in Chicago in 1966 when she is leading a college protest and he is a Sun-Times cub reporter. They end up dating, but the relationship appears to be over when he gets transferred to Washington.

Later, they meet by chance and end up getting married. Kondracke in 2000 continues to narrate, and we see the couple's life shortly after Watergate, when Mort is co-hosting a talk show and Milly is a therapist. Mort is becoming increasingly annoyed that his wife can reach movers and shakers more easily than he can, and about the fact that she tries to save the world at the expense of their marriage.

The couple experiences several problems including daughter Andrea's learning disability. But these are nothing compared to Milly finding out she has Parkinson's disease. She has been such an independent person and can't stand the possibility she might need to be taken care of someday, but her determination will help get her through the experience, along with the love and concern of her husband and two grown daughters.

Madeleine Stowe does an outstanding job convincing us she is sick, and showing a wide range of emotions and mental states. Early in the movie, though, Milly starts out as pleasant yet determined but ends up seeming pushy, and the movie seems to focus too much on the couple's problems. Later, it becomes clear we were seeing why Mort and Milly wife mean so much to each other. Bruce Greenwood does a capable job as Mort.

Since the Family Friendly Programming Forum was mentioned when sponsors were listed, I should say this seems to be an appropriate movie for families. Young children might be frightened by watching Milly's condition go downhill, but I think the educational value of the movie should outweigh many parents' concerns. Though the movie was rated TV-PG-L, I only remember one curse word, and Milly certainly had a right to say one of her doctors must have been born out of wedlock. The couple's problems early in the movie may also be a concern, but there is nothing offensive here.

This is required viewing for anyone wanting to know about Parkinson's.