Watch David's Mother

David's Mother is a touching drama film from 1994 directed by Robert Allan Ackerman. The movie follows the story of Sally Goodson (Kirstie Alley), a single mother who struggles to cope with the challenges of raising her son David (Michael Goorjian), who has Down Syndrome. Sally is a free-spirited woman who loves David deeply, but her love for him is tested when David's father, Robert (Sam Waterston), takes legal action to gain custody of their son.

The film is set in a small town in upstate New York where Sally and David live. Sally works as a waitress at a local diner, and David attends a school for children with special needs. Despite David's condition, Sally has high expectations for her son and wants him to have the same opportunities as any other child. However, as David gets older, Sally realizes that the world is not always kind to people with disabilities, and she begins to worry about his future.

Sally's fears about David's future are partly due to her complicated relationship with Robert, David's father. Sally and Robert were never married, and their relationship was fraught with tension from the beginning. Robert is a wealthy businessman who was never fully comfortable with David's condition. He believed that Sally was not providing David with the proper care, and he decided to take legal action to gain custody of his son.

The custody battle becomes a central focus of the film, and it puts Sally in a difficult position. She knows that David needs her, but she also knows that he needs his father. Sally's lawyer, Emily (Stockard Channing), helps her navigate the legal system, but it soon becomes clear that Sally's love for David may not be enough to win custody of him.

While the custody battle rages on, Sally also faces personal challenges. She begins a relationship with a local artist named John (Chris Sarandon), but she is hesitant to fully open up to him because of her fears and insecurities about David's future. She also struggles to connect with her elderly mother (Deborah Rush), who is dealing with her own health problems.

Despite the obstacles that Sally faces, she remains committed to David and to making sure that he has the best possible life. The film portrays the complex emotions that come with being a parent of a child with special needs. Sally's love for David is unwavering, but she also feels frustration, guilt, and fear. The film shows how these emotions can lead to conflicts with other people, including loved ones.

David's Mother is a poignant and heartwarming film that explores themes of family, love, and parenthood. The performances by Kirstie Alley, Sam Waterston, and Stockard Channing are heartfelt and authentic. The movie provides a compassionate portrayal of people with disabilities and their families. It shows that even in the face of adversity, there is hope and love.

David's Mother is a 1994 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 32 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.2.