In the 1940s a 40-year-old woman with four healthy children gives birth to a girl with Down syndrome.In the 1940s a 40-year-old woman with four healthy children gives birth to a girl with Down syndrome.In the 1940s a 40-year-old woman with four healthy children gives birth to a girl with Down syndrome.
- Awards
- 2 nominations total
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
This was a beautifully told story that anyone can appreciate, but those parents of children with special needs will find particularly emotional viewing. It conveys the challenges well, and treats a sensitive subject with great tenderness. It's also a reminder that the world has come a very long way in a relatively short period of time when it comes to acceptance, but - and this is not related to the movie - it's worth noting that over 80% of those with Down Syndrome are terminated prior to birth. So perhaps we're not that 'inclusive' after all.
I pre-screened this before suggesting it to my wife, but decided against suggesting it after all. It would feel too raw. So be warned, if you have a child with DS or similar, this is a beautiful movie but may tug at your heart strings too deeply for comfort.
I pre-screened this before suggesting it to my wife, but decided against suggesting it after all. It would feel too raw. So be warned, if you have a child with DS or similar, this is a beautiful movie but may tug at your heart strings too deeply for comfort.
Once again, Farrah Fawcett rises above typical television sentimentality and gives a strong performance as a mother facing the hardship of raising a child with Downs Syndrome. Fawcett deserves an Emmy nomination for her potrayal of a woman who gains strength through adversity, and who is the anchor of a family beset by emotional duress and dysfunction. Farrah, both strong and soft, hard and sensitive, continues to grow as an actress. Hopefully, she will be provided even better scripts and direction in the future. Fawcett's turns in The Burning Bed, Small Sacrifices, Dr. T and the Women, and Extremities have shown us that she outgrew her Charlie's Angels image years ago, and that she's long overdue for the really juicy roles.
My review for this movie is way up there. Farrah, as usual, delivers an excellent, realistic performance. I always said she was and is a great actress. The husband was a bit weak, but, overall, a fine performance from him as well, and let's not forget the young lady who played Brenda Kay, either. I caught this movie on late night LMN, started watching it and was quite moved at many points throughout the film. I feel it shows the plight and decisions a poor struggling family in Mississippi had to make for the love of their retarded daughter, their move to California, and their ultimate decisions that needed to be made. Their is a real evolution in the family, and Brenda Kay is not the only member with problems. Farrah's performance is superior; don't miss this "jewel" of a movie; it's a gem. Excellent.
I thought this movie was very good. It showed so much emotion within the family. Farah Faucett was excellent portraying the Mother of a mentally challenged child. It also showed the emotional turmoil which impacted the family as a whole. But I felt it brought out some very true feelings that can occur with parents who have mentally challenged children.
Our 17 mo. old daughter has Down syndrome and this movie really put into perspective how people with Down syndrome were treated years gone by. Fortunately, Jewel was strong enough to know that her daughter would have a productive life...and by God, she did! God bless all those who went against the system and succeeded. Steps to a brighter future is our goal!!!
Did you know
- GoofsJewel removes Brenda Kay's hair ribbon from her hair before her bath, then after a camera switch the ribbon is back in her hair.
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- Jewel
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content