Alex: The Life of a Child (1986)
Directed by Robert Markowitz
Genres - Drama, Family & Personal Relationships |
Sub-Genres - Family Drama, Medical Drama |
Release Date - Apr 23, 1986 (USA - Unknown), Apr 23, 1986 (USA) |
Run Time - 100 min. |
Countries - United States |
MPAA Rating - NR
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Synopsis by Hal Erickson
Alex: The Life of a Child is based on the true story of Sports Illustrated writer Frank Deford and his dying 8-year-old daughter Alex. Craig T. Nelson plays Deford and Gennie James is Alex, both of whom come to grips in different ways with Alex's fatal cystic fibrosis. A subplot involves the torment of Deford's wife (Bonnie Bedelia), who wonders whether she should adopt a child after Alex's death in 1980. Alex: The Life of a Child is effective, but not as well made as its subject matter deserves. Better examples of this particular TV-movie genre include Death be Not Proud (75), based on author John Gunther's recollections of his son's struggle against a degenerative brain tumor, and Mary White (77) the story of a personal tragedy in the life of Kansas journalist William Allen White.
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Keywords
child, daughter, death-in-family, family-illness, ghost, life, terminal-illness, victim