With taboo topics and triggering themes that cut deep for many, it’s no surprise that this movie leaves its viewers either in floods of tears or feeling slightly disappointed.
For the most part My Sister’s Keeper left a lasting impression on film fans thanks to its upsetting themes of cancer and grief. At the heart of the film is a teenage girl named Kate who is tragically diagnosed with leukaemia, leaving her parents in complete turmoil.
With no living family members acting as a genetic match, the couple decide to conceive a child through vitro fertilisation in the hopes their newborn could help to keep their daughter alive. This is known as a ‘saviour sibling’, a concept the author of the original novel took inspiration from after learning about a real-life family’s story.
As her life goes on, Anna, the youngest daughter, is tried and tested as a support for her sister, with whom she shares a close relationship, until at age 11 she is faced with a more life-altering procedure. When Kate faces kidney failure, it’s down to Anna to donate one of her kidneys, severely impacting her quality of life.
It’s then that she decides to approach an attorney and take legal action against her parents, using them for medical emancipation. It explores the complications of family relationships, the lengths parents are willing to go to for their children and the love siblings have for one another in ways that struck a chord with many viewers.
A Rotten Tomatoes review reads: “Prepare for tears. There will be tears. The movie was kind of interesting in how it moved from one perspective to another while still managing to tell a continuous story.
“Maybe people will find it messy, but I found it interesting. I was only a little confused by the flashbacks, being unsure exactly when they took place. Besides that, I found the film very engaging. The acting was excellent. A real tearjerker.”
While someone else shared: “I applaud the movie’s attempt to handle a very difficult and painful subject matter, but it ultimately feels manipulative and contrived. The actors give their all and the filmmaking is good, but the story never gets over the forced mystery of the sister’s decision. Overall okay.”
Playing the mother of the two daughters caught up in these medical procedures is Cameron Diaz, who can be seen shaving her head during an emotional scene in the film. Alongside her is Abigail Breslin and Sofia Vassilieva playing the two sisters, with Jason Patric as their father, and the determined attorney is played by none other than Alec Baldwin.
Viewers have praised the performances of this cast, particularly Diaz, with one review stating, “I don’t know where to start. This movie was absolutely AMAZING! I loved the idea of the movie, and it is very well written.
“I usually cry during sad movies, although this movie I couldn’t stop! It is so heartbreaking. The actors played their roles extremely well.”
The story itself was adapted from the 2004 successful novel by Jodi Picoult, which is loosely based on the real-life story of sisters Marissa and Anissa Ayala. At sixteen, Anissa was diagnosed with leukaemia, and her sister went on to become her donor, helping to save her life, similar to the events that take place in this “heartbreaking” movie.
If you’re looking for your next tear jerker, My Sister’s Keeper is available to stream now on Amazon Prime, but be warned, it is not an easy watch.