This was a made for television movie that I saw as a teen, and thought it was good. I bought this movie, and I still think it's good. Kathy Lee Crosby plays the teacher, Maggie, and does a wonderful job. She lives with her boyfriend, and Kathy Lee is a special education teacher at a public school. One day she gets a new student, Caitlin, played by Ashlee Lauren, and she's a trouble child that was left by her mother at a young age, by abandonment. She ties her to a fence on the freeway and never comes back for her, so she's raised by her poverty stricken father, who is so poor he can't afford clothes and proper things for little Caitlin. She is only six years old, and she's is evil. She vandalizes property, smears excrement on walls and attacks other children in the classroom. The state has branded her as psychotic. When Maggie tests Caitlin, she realizes how smart she is, and finds that she is way above her age level. With love from her teacher, and patience, she turns herself around, and becomes a more "tamed child", and can function properly in class. Just when Caitlin is doing so well in school, she gets molested by her father's friend while in his care. Caitlin then has a major setback, but is so loved by her teacher, she comes around and survives the ordeal. Maggie does such an awesome job with Caitlin that she even challenges the law to help her be educated. This is a true story about what a person can do for someone else they feel is worth the time and effort. Because of this teacher, Caitlin got to live a normal life and be put into a normal classroom in just one year.
August 9, 2008 |  | A story of a disturbed child-Excellent! |  |
I saw it on the television a couple of years ago. I loved it! About a young, very disturbed child who attacks other children, vandalises etc. As the child is put into a special needs class at school her teacher realises how hard it is to handle her and cope with her being in her classroom. Social workers decide its best to put her in care due toher behaviour. Anyway, as her school teacher begins to see a difference in her, how she comes out as a bright young child. She will do anything to keep her in her class, determined to help her and stop her from being put into care!
The two begin to bond very well and wont give up on the child!
July 8, 2006Well... This movie was inspired by Torey Hayden's One Child book... Un-inspired seems better to describe this thing! It's NOT the Torey's story, who was true. It's just a bad movie with a crying story...
Buy the book, is really good... But please not this movie... Save your money!...
(SaintMaloSteff, regular member of Torey Hayden's forum)
September 4, 2005 | | Don't Bother - Thumbs Down | |
This film was a poor knock off of the book with inaccurate portrayal of actual events. Maggie was annoying instead of the heroic figure the movie tried to make her seem. John Getz was a sulky drag. Find the book and read it instead. This movie insults the book.
August 17, 2005A woman who believes in a troubled child must go against the law in order to help her in this made-for-TV drama, inspired by a true story. Six-year-old Caitlin is a deeply disturbed child whose violent and disruptive behavior prevents her from attending school or day care with other youngsters. However, Special Education teacher Maggie Barnard senses that there is a great intelligence in Caitlin, and she believes Caitlin can be taught if someone can find out how to reach her. However, not everyone Maggie works with agrees with her assessment, and as she attempts to break through the walls of anger and abuse that surround Caitlin's mind, she must also do battle with a system that sometimes does more harm than good to kids.
This is such a well done movie and is a movie that you find yourself watching again and again,theres just something so good about it!
May 4, 2005More reviews at Amazon.com ...
Daily Birthdays
(6 reviews)