Freedom

Mare Winningham...what an actress! IMHO she is the most under-rated actress in Hollywood. She can act rings around most of the 40ish 'stars' out there. She can sing like an angel, too. I first saw her on The Gong Show of all places in about 1976 and a few years later when I started seeing her on MOW (movies of the week) I remembered her. Then when I watched this movie I realized what a terrific actress she is. She sings several songs in this movie and the opening one (I think the name of it is "On My Way To Me" by Janis Ian) is truly a beautiful song. Her character of Libby is much more multi-faceted than the usual teenage runaway was portrayed back in the late 70s/early 80s. Mare is great in every scene and very believable as a teenager trying to sort out her life. I try to see everything she is in. She's that good an actress. Try to catch the movie Georgia from 1995 - she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. The soundtrack from that movie is great. Freedom is very hard to find. I don't think it has been released on video. I watched it again for the first time in 20 years at the Museum of TV and Radio in NYC. Go there and watch this in a viewing booth and see what a great actress Mare Winningham is.

I daresay this is my all time favorite movie. I love it because it describes my relationship with my mother very well. The music is great as well, Mare does an excellent job singing in this movie.

I made sure to let Janis Ian know how much I love the songs from this movie as well, since she wrote all of them. I have the original handwritten lyrics from Up the Marks and a cassette of her and Mare rehearsing "On the way to me" (which is my favorite song from the movie.

So yes, I am a HUGE fan of this movie!

Update/ Edit 2017: This movie is viewable on You Tube.

Original review: Glad to see that there are some other fans of this little gem. I keep hoping that Mare Winningham's new-found popularity might get this one released on DVD, but I guess I'll have to visit the Museum of TV if I want to give in another look. I'm not sure how it will stand up after all these years, but I do remember that after seeing this movie a couple of times back in the early 80's, I never forgot it and I never forgot the music. Are any of the songs featured on any Janis Ian CD collections? This film was the true start of Mare Winningham's career, and some of the best work that Janis Ian ever did I'm sure. Kudos to director Joe Sargent. The entire cast does a fine job and my memory of this movie haunts me at times as the songs keep popping into my head after all of these years.

I saw this movie on TV when it first came out and it touched my life. It really hit home with me in so many ways. I think Mare Winningham is a great actress and I try to see everything she appears in. Ever since, I have been searching for it on video. I've checked the local video stores for any "Made for TV" movies hoping one day to come across it. I've even gone so far as to subscribe to TV Guide at one time and read through the movies section every week to see if it was ever going to air again. If anyone out there knows where I can get a copy of this, please post the information. It would be greatly appreciated. Even if it means having to contact the company that produced it . I'm sure there has to be some way

I wish I could see this again. I saw it when I was little and it made a huge impression on me. It was so well done. I remember there was singing and I really wanted Libby to be happy. It's been over 20 years and I still think about it.