Post by achebeautiful on Sept 9, 2006 17:04:10 GMT -5
I watched this movie today, and I was going to post it under the topic "Films You Think Others Should Check Out" but was so deeply moved and inspired by it that i thought it would be best to give it it's own thread.
"Smile"
Synopsis
Malibu, California - Present day. A smart, precocious and beautiful teenager named Katie (Mika Boorem) celebrates her birthday with her family and friends. Her father, Steven (Beau Bridges), and mother, Bridgett (Linda Hamilton), have provided Katie with a lot of love and understanding, as well as a privileged life and all that a material world has to offer. Halfway around world in rural China, another teenage girl, Lin (Yi Ding), celebrates her birthday on the exact same day, but her reality exists in stark contrast to Katie's. Rescued as an infant, Lin has a severe facial deformity that prevents her from the freedom of ever showing her face. Her adoptive father, Daniel (Luoyong Wang), has sacrificed everything in his life in order to protect his beloved child. They live with the bare essentials, in darkness and absolute simplicity. But they are bonded with incredible love and closeness. His only hope is that one day Lin can emerge from her self-imposed isolation to live in the world without fear and shame. On his way home from work one day, Daniel sees a flyer that alerts him to a special medical program that provides reconstructive surgery to children in countries who cannot otherwise afford it. It's called 'Doctor's Gift' (based on 'Operation Smile'). Although she's reluctant at first, Lin agrees to accompany her father to a clinic in Shanghai. However, due to a series of unfortunate events, Daniel is unable to get Lin to the clinic in time, and they miss out on the chance for surgery. Back in America, Katie is confronting some real issues in her life, soul searching in a way that smart teenage girls often do. Among her concerns is a decision whether to have sex for the first time with her boyfriend Chris (Erik von Detten). At the same time, Katie is also searching for a deeper meaning to her life and is inspired to look outside her own world for something new and challenging. When one of her teachers (Sean Astin) introduces Katie to the Doctor's Gift program, it strikes an emotional chord for her. Suddenly, she has a different perspective on life, particularly after reading Lin's case file. Although Katie has never done something like this before, she recognizes the opportunity, puts her own problems aside and volunteers to go on the next Doctor's Gift trip to China. Katie is joined on the trip by one of her classmates, Ted (Johnathan Trent), who is also looking for a deeper meaning to his life. But from the moment they arrive in China, Katie's world is turned upside down. Her expectations of what she would experience are shattered. Actually seeing the deformed children who come to the surgery clinic face-to-face is overwhelming, heartbreaking and far more than she can handle emotionally. Nothing she ever experienced could prepare her for this. Her first instinct is to quit the program, but after confiding her fears to nurse volunteer Linda (Cheri Oteri), Katie decides to fulfill her mission and begins to see the profound impact of her work. But something is missing. Daniel and Lin are nowhere to be found. Katie decides she must do something - push this life challenge one step further. So, she takes it upon herself to find Lin and bring her to the clinic. Katie's selfless journey takes her deep into rural China - alone - in a world where she is a total stranger, where nothing echoes even the slightest trace of familiarity. Katie finds Daniel first and explains her purpose. Ever hopeful, Daniel takes her to his daughter. The encounter between Lin and Katie is heart wrenching, difficult at first for both girls to fully comprehend. There are so many questions, so many differences... and yet, they share a deeply felt bond. Katie realizes her mission would be incomplete unless she can convince Lin to come to the clinic. What Katie has learned from Lin has been more than just an inspiration, but something that will stay with her forever. In turn, Lin realizes that she must overcome her fear and seize the opportunity to change her life. She finally relents to leaving the safety of her hidden existence and joins Katie and her father as they head back to Shanghai. With everyone's emotions stirring, Lin's facial reconstructive surgery begins. A father's love, a friend's compassion and the support of all those who care make this moment extraordinary. Lin's surgery is successful and for the first time, we can see her full, strikingly beautiful face. It has been a life-changing event for these two young women and now, a true celebration. Through a montage of still photographs, we can see Lin and Katie at prom night, at their high school graduation, and at other life events that would make any teenage girl wish to share her radiant SMILE with the world. In the end, Katie's selfless choice, to see and experience life as she never imagined, and to confront her deepest fears by taking a journey on her own is where she ultimately finds the power and beauty of humanity. There, she has discovered that sometimes what you do for someone else can be a life-changing experience...for yourself.
"Smile"
Synopsis
Malibu, California - Present day. A smart, precocious and beautiful teenager named Katie (Mika Boorem) celebrates her birthday with her family and friends. Her father, Steven (Beau Bridges), and mother, Bridgett (Linda Hamilton), have provided Katie with a lot of love and understanding, as well as a privileged life and all that a material world has to offer. Halfway around world in rural China, another teenage girl, Lin (Yi Ding), celebrates her birthday on the exact same day, but her reality exists in stark contrast to Katie's. Rescued as an infant, Lin has a severe facial deformity that prevents her from the freedom of ever showing her face. Her adoptive father, Daniel (Luoyong Wang), has sacrificed everything in his life in order to protect his beloved child. They live with the bare essentials, in darkness and absolute simplicity. But they are bonded with incredible love and closeness. His only hope is that one day Lin can emerge from her self-imposed isolation to live in the world without fear and shame. On his way home from work one day, Daniel sees a flyer that alerts him to a special medical program that provides reconstructive surgery to children in countries who cannot otherwise afford it. It's called 'Doctor's Gift' (based on 'Operation Smile'). Although she's reluctant at first, Lin agrees to accompany her father to a clinic in Shanghai. However, due to a series of unfortunate events, Daniel is unable to get Lin to the clinic in time, and they miss out on the chance for surgery. Back in America, Katie is confronting some real issues in her life, soul searching in a way that smart teenage girls often do. Among her concerns is a decision whether to have sex for the first time with her boyfriend Chris (Erik von Detten). At the same time, Katie is also searching for a deeper meaning to her life and is inspired to look outside her own world for something new and challenging. When one of her teachers (Sean Astin) introduces Katie to the Doctor's Gift program, it strikes an emotional chord for her. Suddenly, she has a different perspective on life, particularly after reading Lin's case file. Although Katie has never done something like this before, she recognizes the opportunity, puts her own problems aside and volunteers to go on the next Doctor's Gift trip to China. Katie is joined on the trip by one of her classmates, Ted (Johnathan Trent), who is also looking for a deeper meaning to his life. But from the moment they arrive in China, Katie's world is turned upside down. Her expectations of what she would experience are shattered. Actually seeing the deformed children who come to the surgery clinic face-to-face is overwhelming, heartbreaking and far more than she can handle emotionally. Nothing she ever experienced could prepare her for this. Her first instinct is to quit the program, but after confiding her fears to nurse volunteer Linda (Cheri Oteri), Katie decides to fulfill her mission and begins to see the profound impact of her work. But something is missing. Daniel and Lin are nowhere to be found. Katie decides she must do something - push this life challenge one step further. So, she takes it upon herself to find Lin and bring her to the clinic. Katie's selfless journey takes her deep into rural China - alone - in a world where she is a total stranger, where nothing echoes even the slightest trace of familiarity. Katie finds Daniel first and explains her purpose. Ever hopeful, Daniel takes her to his daughter. The encounter between Lin and Katie is heart wrenching, difficult at first for both girls to fully comprehend. There are so many questions, so many differences... and yet, they share a deeply felt bond. Katie realizes her mission would be incomplete unless she can convince Lin to come to the clinic. What Katie has learned from Lin has been more than just an inspiration, but something that will stay with her forever. In turn, Lin realizes that she must overcome her fear and seize the opportunity to change her life. She finally relents to leaving the safety of her hidden existence and joins Katie and her father as they head back to Shanghai. With everyone's emotions stirring, Lin's facial reconstructive surgery begins. A father's love, a friend's compassion and the support of all those who care make this moment extraordinary. Lin's surgery is successful and for the first time, we can see her full, strikingly beautiful face. It has been a life-changing event for these two young women and now, a true celebration. Through a montage of still photographs, we can see Lin and Katie at prom night, at their high school graduation, and at other life events that would make any teenage girl wish to share her radiant SMILE with the world. In the end, Katie's selfless choice, to see and experience life as she never imagined, and to confront her deepest fears by taking a journey on her own is where she ultimately finds the power and beauty of humanity. There, she has discovered that sometimes what you do for someone else can be a life-changing experience...for yourself.