I Am Sam
2001 · 2h 12m · Drama
If you're in the mood for a heartfelt, emotionally heavy drama with Sean Penn delivering one of his most committed performances, absolutely watch it—just prepare yourself for a manipulative tearjerker that swings for the fences. Skip it if you're tired of Oscar-bait sentimentality or can't handle stories about child welfare that might hit too close to home.
Plot
Sam, a neurodivergent man, has a daughter with a homeless woman who abandons them when they leave the hospital, leaving Sam to raise Lucy on his own. But as Lucy grows up, Sam's limitations as a parent start to become a problem and the authorities take her away. Sam convinces high-priced lawyer Rita to take his case pro bono and in turn teaches her the value of love and family.
Director: Jessie Nelson
Cast: Sean Penn, Michelle Pfeiffer, Dianne Wiest, Dakota Fanning, Richard Schiff