Imagine just being any ordinary teenager and finding out that you were adopted or not the biological child of whom you thought were your parents. An identity issue for any person. But imagine being an extraordinarily gifted 12 year old who discovers that you're actually a clone of a deceased genius, used by the woman you thought was your mother simply to fulfill an experiment. That's the story for Martha Byrne in this early cable movie, told in the most matter-of-fact ways by mother Dina Merrill, yet realizing that your whole identity is a lie and that every trait of your personality comes from someone long deceased. Byrne is a walking experiment, sent to special teachers and a scientific hospital where are more tests make her question her identity, and finding another clone of the same person.
The future Lily Walsh of "As the World Turns" had a very difficult upbringing on the daytime serial, but in this movie, her situation is far beyond what Lily went through. Then there's Anna's parents, Dina Merrill and Jack Ryland, as different as night and day. Ryland, a musician, believes in love and tenderness and genuine affection while scientists Merrill doesn't seem to have the capability of love if it doesn't fulfill her desire for scientific achievement. Merrill isn't completely unfeeling, but it's obvious that a woman of her scientific genius should have just chosen her career and not motherhood. Mark Patton may have his differences with his sister, but he's instantly disgusted by the revelation of what his mother did, and his goal to wake their mother up to her follies shows that he is definitely his father's son with his ability to love unconditionally.
in a major supporting role, Donna Mitchell is commanding as a musician friend of the parents who takes Byrne under her wing and becomes a tough taskmaster. At times, it seems that she has some sort of agenda, and throughout the film, that remains a mystery. The terrific Loretta Devine has a nice cameo as Byrne's teacher who discovers that she is a kleptomaniac and must put up with her insults while confronting her for her trespasses. Jack Gilford has a memorable cameo and a type of role that was completely different for anything he had played in the past. Virginia Stevens is very funny as an aging nurse who is not prepared to take crap from any teenager, yet finds that she has met her match.
But it is Martha Byrne herself who becomes the most memorable presence in this film, going from a confused and often nasty teenager to a young lady finding herself after realizing that her identity has been stolen from her. couldn't find she starts off as unlikable and seemingly someone that the audience could not root for, but quickly turn that around as she researches original Anna and finds out shocking things about her past, hoping to create her own identity while keeping the best traits that the late Anna has given her.
While there are more than just a few elements of "The Boys from Brazil" in this film, the theme of cloning get some unique insights as does the psychology of what happens when a child finds out that they are not who they have always thought they are. The film does take a dark turn in the last half hour and that gives it a very adult point of view that moves it from light science fiction to very subtle horror. This really is the type of film to make you sit and think and ask questions and research and discuss with the other people you watch it with.
The future Lily Walsh of "As the World Turns" had a very difficult upbringing on the daytime serial, but in this movie, her situation is far beyond what Lily went through. Then there's Anna's parents, Dina Merrill and Jack Ryland, as different as night and day. Ryland, a musician, believes in love and tenderness and genuine affection while scientists Merrill doesn't seem to have the capability of love if it doesn't fulfill her desire for scientific achievement. Merrill isn't completely unfeeling, but it's obvious that a woman of her scientific genius should have just chosen her career and not motherhood. Mark Patton may have his differences with his sister, but he's instantly disgusted by the revelation of what his mother did, and his goal to wake their mother up to her follies shows that he is definitely his father's son with his ability to love unconditionally.
in a major supporting role, Donna Mitchell is commanding as a musician friend of the parents who takes Byrne under her wing and becomes a tough taskmaster. At times, it seems that she has some sort of agenda, and throughout the film, that remains a mystery. The terrific Loretta Devine has a nice cameo as Byrne's teacher who discovers that she is a kleptomaniac and must put up with her insults while confronting her for her trespasses. Jack Gilford has a memorable cameo and a type of role that was completely different for anything he had played in the past. Virginia Stevens is very funny as an aging nurse who is not prepared to take crap from any teenager, yet finds that she has met her match.
But it is Martha Byrne herself who becomes the most memorable presence in this film, going from a confused and often nasty teenager to a young lady finding herself after realizing that her identity has been stolen from her. couldn't find she starts off as unlikable and seemingly someone that the audience could not root for, but quickly turn that around as she researches original Anna and finds out shocking things about her past, hoping to create her own identity while keeping the best traits that the late Anna has given her.
While there are more than just a few elements of "The Boys from Brazil" in this film, the theme of cloning get some unique insights as does the psychology of what happens when a child finds out that they are not who they have always thought they are. The film does take a dark turn in the last half hour and that gives it a very adult point of view that moves it from light science fiction to very subtle horror. This really is the type of film to make you sit and think and ask questions and research and discuss with the other people you watch it with.