MY SISTER’S KEEPER: A CRITIQUE ESSAY
Family is most likely considered to be a big priority to almost everyone who is part of
one. Because of the bond and the familial passion that goes around it, we often would say that
we would do anything for the family to be complete and alive, no matter how much it would take.
The movie My Sister's Keeper is a film that similarly attests to this type of situation, and how
much parents would willingly go extreme lengths for their children, even if some of them may be
considered as unethical or hard for others. Released in 2009, director Nick Cassavetes was
able to produce the movie My Sister's Keeper that was adapted from the 2004 novel by Jodi
Picoult that is titled the same thing. The movie consists of numerous situations and scenes that
portray the dilemmas of a family taking care of a cancer patient child, and how much it has
affected them as a whole and individually. With that being said, this paper will discuss the
components of the movie and how it went, and also provide a critique on it overall.
Given the signal to watch the movie for this class, I could say that it became an
opportunity for me to witness a new type of movie concept and also acquire knowledge that
could stand as moral lessons and perspective changers. It was really something that I could
consider to be as intriguing and an audience grabber, especially with the movie plot and how
the events unraveled one by one. My Sister's keeper is evidently different from what i have
already watched in the past which makes it stand out a lot. The drama that was portrayed in the
movie circulates around the family, most specifically when the lawsuit made an appearance.
The conflict between Anna and her mother because of the lawsuit made me muster all my
emotions, and also have myself begin to analyze the situation and figure out which is right and
wrong. I was put into the position of choosing between supporting Anna with her lawsuit, or
becoming part of the people who is convincing her to donate her kidney nonetheless. And the
twist in the movie was also something that emotionally affected me while watching, and
something I would remember at the same time.
While watching the movie, the plot was unexpected and unpredictable most especially if
you did not read the synopsis beforehand, but the way the plot continuously showed itself more
became a way for the audience to have a better grasp on the movie and what it would be about.
The events that were displayed once again were very attention grabbing, which I appreciate
since it already proves that the plot of the movie would be interesting and has a lot in store for
the audience that is watching. Having to witness the unexpected events shocked me and put
me in a position of curiosity and realization. An example would be the part wherein Anna
revealed about how her kidney donation plan was something that she really wanted to do for
Kate and that her disagreeing with it was not the case and the reason for the lawsuit to even
happen in the first place. And that Kate was the one who told Anna to refuse even if she is
already in so much pain from her disease. That became a really huge revelation that made the
plot feel so different, and also made me feel like the plot I thought I already knew was not what it
really was.
Throughout the movie, Anna was the character who caught my attention the most.
Emphasis on how she is the sibling that was conceived through vitro fertilization, she stands as
the lifeline of her sister Kate and it made her life only revolve around that purpose only. The way
their parents decided to have Anna and only use her to make Kate's life longer seemed like an
action that is unfair on Anna's side, especially since the pressure put on her is very heavy due
to her sick sister depending on her at the same time. Anna being a character who consisted of
bravery by filing a lawsuit for the medical emancipation against her mother provided to the
audience how much of a huge step and even risk she took, since that could become an open
opportunity for the family to break apart. But since she was persistent and she was only
following Kate's wishes without their parents knowing that, the situation was different from the
perspective of Sara, and had a lot of things go spiral.
The movie had its plot as the greatest strength. Bringing it up again, the revelation of the
agreement between Anna and Kate was a very huge turn in the movie and was able to resolve
the dispute between Anna and her parents, most especially her mother. The parents realized
that broadened their view and also realized their faults in their end, and had them understand
why Anna sought freedom with her established role in life that she did not even sign up for in the
first place, and that Kate wanted her to be free as well. Another strength of the movie was
through the moral values that it displayed and made the audience learn while watching, such as
familial love, honesty, bravery, and also the want for proper justice. I can't really point out a
weakness for the movie, since I genuinely think it is a great film. Nick Cassavetes directing
made the movie become what it is and have the audience pour out a lot of emotions, and also
give the reminder of how misunderstandings can be fixed through proper communication and
that life is always something to be grateful for.
Overall, the movie consisted of a lot of scenes that perfectly made the audience go
through the experience of family occurrences. I was able to witness how much effort a family
would give just to have a member survive and get their needs, and also how much other people
can be affected by decisions that could be one sidedly beneficial only. Even if the film was
fictional, it can still happen in real life and we must be aware of that. My Sister's Keeper is a film
that I would recommend for other people to watch as well so they could also become an
audience to the unraveling of events and become part of the journey that revolves around a sick
sibling and what happens in it. I was able to learn a lot as well, which I would apply in my real
life practices and have as reminders for the daily basis.
