Watch The Miracle Worker

The Miracle Worker is a 2000 made-for-television movie based on the story of Helen Keller, a young girl left blind and deaf following a bout of illness in her infancy. The movie tells the story of how a young teacher, Anne Sullivan, was able to teach Helen language and break through the barriers that had kept her isolated from the world around her.

Alison Elliott stars as Anne Sullivan, an experienced teacher who takes on the seemingly impossible task of teaching Helen Keller, portrayed by Hallie Kate Eisenberg. Lucas Black plays James Keller, Helen's half-brother who struggles with his relationship with his father and his own feelings of neglect.

The movie begins with a young Helen, living with her family in Alabama in the late 1800s. Her parents, Kate (Kate Greenhouse) and Captain Keller, are at odds about how to handle their daughter's condition. Kate is convinced that Helen needs love and understanding, while Captain Keller believes that she needs discipline and structure. As a result, Helen is left to her own devices, living in a world of darkness and silence.

Enter Anne Sullivan, a young woman with her own struggles, having grown up in an abusive household and lost her own sight at a young age. She arrives at the Keller house determined to change Helen's life and teach her to communicate. At first, Anne meets resistance from Captain Keller, who thinks that his daughter's condition is hopeless. But Anne is undeterred and begins to work with Helen, showing her the world around her through touch and signs.

Despite Helen's initial resistance, Anne is able to break through to her, teaching her the signs for different objects and concepts in the world around her. The film shows the relationship between Anne and Helen growing stronger, as Helen begins to make progress in her communication skills.

Meanwhile, James struggles with his relationship with his father and his feelings of neglect. He befriends Anne and helps her in her efforts to teach Helen, but still feels alone and unloved. James sees in Anne a kindred spirit and begins to confide in her about his own struggles.

As the movie progresses, Anne becomes more frustrated with Captain Keller's refusal to see Helen as anything but a hopeless case. She decides to take Helen away from the house for a few weeks to work with her without the distractions of the Keller household. This leads to a turning point in Helen's development, as she finally makes the connection between the signs Anne is teaching her and the objects they represent.

Eventually, Helen's progress becomes too great to ignore and Captain Keller is forced to recognize the impact that Anne has had on his daughter's life. He sees in Anne the kind of love and determination that he has been lacking in his own parenting style and begins to change his ways.

In the end, Helen is able to communicate with her family and the world around her, thanks to the efforts of Anne Sullivan. The movie ends with Helen delivering her first speech, a moment that is bittersweet for Anne, as she realizes that her work with Helen is done and she must move on to her next student.

Overall, The Miracle Worker is a touching retelling of the story of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan, with strong performances from the cast and an emotional script. It is a reminder of the power of love and determination, and the impact that one person can have on the life of another.

The Miracle Worker is a 2000 tv movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 35 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2.