I did not know anything about Brooke Ellison before my viewing of this, so I can't talk about how accurate it is. I have not read the book, either. With a subject like this, it can easily degenerate into a manipulative mess, so jam-packed with high-concentrate corn that you might need to have it surgically removed afterwards. This manages to steer clear of that, at least almost completely. Whether it be constant vigilance or some other cause, they produced a movie that is honestly an inspiring tale(crap, now I sound cheesy). The plot is well-written, and develops nicely. The acting is all quite good, and Chabert definitely delivers a solid performance. I can imagine that Reeves connected to this story on a deep and personal level, which could help explain why it's so well-directed. This wasn't as bleak as it could be, and ends up practically being a feel-good flick. I also found this to have somewhat less drama than, well, than what one might expect from the, you know, genre(as well as what it deals with). But hey, if this was closer to how it happened, and they didn't feel the need to add more, then they did exactly what they should. I recommend this to anyone who wants a well-done film about being a quadriplegic, that isn't dark and that anyone, of nearly any age, can watch. 7/10

Imagine the world if we all demonstrated the kind of dignity, bravery, and integrity that Christopher Reeve showed us. The entire film was a testament to his creative brilliance as a film maker and his personal commitment to give voice to people who live with (not 'suffer from') spinal cord injury. "Contribute to the world or be paralyzed. It's your choice." What a legacy he left for all of us.Just one thing to add to all the comments: It was not only Brooke's mother who sacrificed and stood by her daughter to help her achieve success: Her father also demonstrated the kind of unwaivering strength and unselfishness we rarely see today. His contributions were every bit as important as his wife's. Mostly, though, it was Brooke's own spirit, determination and, well, GUTS that propelled this story. Cheers to a beautifully executed project and a lasting gift to the world.

I thought the movie was very good, so good that i taped it! From the very beginning i was interested to see, how a quadriplegic person lives their life. I must say that they are very brave, and full of..cant think of the words right now but they are good! The story was good, don't know what to say except that the movie was beyond my expectations! From the accident scene, to her family's reaction, it was all so real. I really think that they chose the right person to do the role of the protagonist. Christopher Reeve's attempt at directing this move was in my opinion a HUGE success! THis movie will remain as one of my favorites for quite some time! Lacey's performance was great, and she was the reason i wanted to watch the movie! She is great!Josh

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!