by Bhob Stewart
synopsis
Filmed in Vancouver, this Hallmark Hall of Fame takes place during the '70s in the U.S. After the death of her mother, Charlotte (Glynis O'Connor), 10-year-old Ellen Foster (Jena Malone, who narrates) suffers abuse from her alcoholic father (Ted Levine) and is ill-treated by her maternal aunts Nadine (Debra Monk) and Betsy (Barbara Garrick) and also by Nadine's mean daughter Dora (Kimberly Brown). Ellen is sent to live with her grief-stricken grandmother Leonora (Julie Harris), but her problems continue since the mean-spirited Leonora blames Ellen for Charlotte's death. Harry Nilsson's song, "Remember Christmas," is featured. This TV movie premiered December 14, 1997 on CBS.
characteristics
- High Production Values
- Innocence Lost
- Triumph Of The Spirit
- Grieving Process
- Grandmother
- Grief
- Mistreatment
- Mourn
- Mother
- Father
- Family-abuse
- Bereavement
- Aunt
- Alcoholism
- Alcoholic
