The Brooke Ellison Story (2004) (TV)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Christopher Reeve

Writers (WGA):

Brooke Ellison (book) and
Jean Ellison (book) ...

Release Date:

25 October 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Plot:

Rendered a quadriplegic since a child from a near-fatal neck injury, a young girl fights against all odds to succeed in life from grade school to her acceptance into college under the assistance of her loyal and dedicated mother. |

Plot Keywords:

Quadriplegic | College | High School | Based On True Story | Character Name In Title

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio	...	Jean Ellison
John Slattery	...	Ed Ellison
Lacey Chabert	...	Brooke Ellison
Vanessa Marano	...	Young Brooke Ellison
Jenson Goins	...	Young Kysten Ellison
Devon Gearhart	...	Young Reed Ellison
Lauren Barrett	...	Older Kysten Ellison
Ryan Hudson	...	Reed Ellison
Luke Flynn	...	Jan Djilas
Terrence Gibney	...	Mr. Barnes (as Terence Gibney)
Sabah	...	Cara
Jerry Lee Leighton	...	Mr. Linski
Ramona Tyler	...	Bobbi (as Ramona Tyler)
Melinda Walsh	...	Barbara
Judy Leavell	...	Muriel

Also Known As:

A História de Brooke Ellison (Brazil) [pt]
Istoria tis Brooke Ellison, I (Greece) [el]
Pour que la vie continue (France) [fr]

MPAA:

Rated PG for thematic elements and language.

Runtime:

Brazil:91 min | 120 min (including commercials)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, USA

Company:

A&E Television Networks

Trivia:

Christopher Reeve's final directing project.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: At the end of Brooke's graduation speech, her mother is shown as the first person to stand during the ovation; however, after the camera scans the crowd, they show her mother finally stand on the stage.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Heart of a Hero: A Tribute to Christopher Reeve (2006) (V)

Soundtrack:

It's Gonna Be Okay

Inspiring

I just caught this on A & E. The dedication is to Christopher Reeve, who directed it, so it makes me think it is the premiere of the movie but I don't know (I thought it had aired earlier this year).

The story is about Brooke Ellison, who was struck by a car at a very young age. Her family helped nurse her back to health and to get through the rest of school as well as university, her mother attended all classes with her and helped her physically. According to the movie, Brooke used a voice-activated computer system for her work and she controlled her chair by a retainer in her mouth.

It is amazing what she and her family went through to get her through school. As it turns out, she was/is very bright, thus getting accepted to Harvard.

A great story. If you have no disabilities, it shows how lucky some people are not to have them; but at the same time, some who do have them do not let it slow them down and are probably more determined to get on with a meaningful life.

Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio is always lovely to watch and Lacey Chabert, as Brooke, is wonderful. Highly recommend it!