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Losing Isaiah

(1,004)IMDb 6.51 h 46 min1995X-RayR

A white social worker adopts an African-American baby, but years later the formerly drug-addicted birth mother returns and goes to court to regain custody of her son. An intense, emotional story, with Samuel L. Jackson.

Directors: Stephen Gyllenhaal

Starring: Jessica Lange Halle Berry David Strathairn

Genres: Drama

Subtitles: English [CC]

Audio languages: English

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Supporting actors: Cuba Gooding Jr.Daisy Eagan Marc John Jefferies Samuel L. Jackson Joie Susannah Leemore…Regina TaylorLatanya RichardsonJacqueline BrookesJoie Lee

Producers: Howard W. Koch Naomi Foner Howard W. Koch Jr.

Studio: PARAMOUNT PICTURES

Rating: R (Restricted)

Content advisory: Sexual contentviolencefoul languagedrug use

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Format: Prime Video (streaming online video)

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5 star		87%
4 star		9%
3 star		2%
2 star		1%
1 star		1%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Kindle Customer

What breaks my heart in this movie, is saying "black babies need their black mothers".

Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2019

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I've seen this movie several times, each time breaks my heart. It angers me that the lawyer taking the case is only doing it because, " black babies need to be with black mothers". Color doesn't matter, love and the ability to give a child a safe and secure environment matters. Having six black grandchildren, color has never yet been an issue in their development. The oldest being 16 and so well rounded in every way. Yet raised by my daughter a white mother. People need to start realizing color don't matter, the fact we are all humans is what matters.

28 people found this helpful

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steph

Biology means nothing - it’ wrong to take a child from the only parents they have known.

Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2019

Verified Purchase

Excellent film. One of my favs over the years. Never knew I’d live through the pain of a similar situation years later. It is absolutely wrong and heartbreaking to take children from the only parents they have ever known from birth and are bonded to just because of biology and a crooked system. Biology means NOTHING when they already have a stable loving home with parents (foster, adopted or other) that they are completely bonded to. It’s so wrong. The system is cruel. With that said, this is a great film. Highly recommended. Happy endings are rare.

10 people found this helpful

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Lisa

great movie!

Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2020

Verified Purchase

film always makes me cry. Seeing the love Isaiah has with Maggie is truly a beautiful thing. I think the film brings up some really important points. It's important especially if you adopt a child whose race differs from yours that they are reminded and introduced of their culture and background but I didn't like the fact that they gave Isaiah back to Khalia simply because she was black. The court scene was really unrealistic not to mention Maggie's family was more than capable of taking care of Isaiah and they were all he's known. Black babies do not always belong with their black mothers and I was offended at that line. Khalia should have also stuck it out with Isaiah on her own because just bringing the kid back and forth between both families would be really confusing for him. Marc John Jefferies did such a wonderful job as Isaiah especially being only 4/5. I cried at almost every scene. Highly recommend this movie!

4 people found this helpful

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EGALITARIANTop Contributor: Watches

Powerful Story: Transracial Adoptions

Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2018

Verified Purchase

Losing Isaiah is a powerful story about the emotional tug-a-war between adoptive parents and natural parents. Though the movie is about a trans-racial adoption, the issues raised are central to all adoptions. Indeed, the bigger message in this dramatization is about how children suffer, becoming emotionally scared casualties in these battles. Custody battles is a sad and tragic story playing out in our family courts every day. Never any winners.

***Great performances by Jessica Lange and Halle Berry.

Respectfully,

Maizie Lucille James
May 20, 2018

5 people found this helpful

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Nancy Price (flags@pld.com)

Child's life pulled apart by courts

Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2018

Verified Purchase

David Strathairn plays the role of husband in this absorbing story. A drug addict young mother deserts her child to get her next fix. In the meantime, the child is rescued and taken to the hospital. A female doctor falls in love with the child and wants to adopt. The doctor is white skinned and the child is black skinned. The mother of the child takes advice and cleans up her act of drugging and wants the child back. It is up to the courts to decide the fate of the child irregardless of the child's love attachments. It is a compelling drama.

3 people found this helpful

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Lacey

It's a really good movie

Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2020

Verified Purchase

This.is a really good movie do not listen to the negative comments this is a awsome movie.. I cry and cry over this movie I seen it over and over 10000 times

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Totalities

It is one of the best movies I have seen

Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2018

Verified Purchase

It is one of the best movies I have seen. What an extreme pain a child must go through just because. I understand this because of what my daughter, my love of life went through when her mom left her behind just to have her fun and her miserable life ( I hope ).

2 people found this helpful

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Nicole K.

Great movie!

Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2021

Verified Purchase

I watched this movie to write a paper for my Child Welfare class and I was completely blown away. This movie does a great job at showing the different perspectives. It also talks about some differences in culture. I highly recommend this movie.

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Top reviews from other countries

Throda tzen

An emotional racial rollercoaster

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 10, 2015

Verified Purchase

This 1995 emotional drama tells the fictional story of Khaila Richards (Halle Berry) a no hoper drug addict who goes in search of her next ‘fix’ cradling her crying newborn son in her arms. She places him in a box, promising to return, as she prostitutes herself for her drugs. Awakening the following morning, the rubbish and the baby have gone and unknown to her has been rescued and taken to a hospital where social worker Margaret Lewin (Jessica Lange) and her husband end up adopting the child. Three years later, Khaila has ‘straightened ‘ herself out and now wants custody of the child.
This is a highly entertaining movie, well acted by the two leading ladies and Isaiah [Marc John Jefferies], nice photography, decent settings and well developed characters. The issue is it’s self racism as it strives for political correctness.

*****************************************************************************
POSSIBLE SPOILER; The main problem is that the court case focuses on a sole point –should people be allowed adopt a child of different colour/racial background? This is summed up by Khaila’ lawyer “..black babies should be with black mothers!” and whether the white family read books about black characters in order for Isaiah to understand his roots [lose a *].
******************************************************

The ending seemed obvious, long before it came so I’d already become detached from most of the emotional court case and the ending just seemed a cop out and left lots of loose ends to the story, [lose another *]. Despite the flaws this is an emotional ride as we loath Khaila at the start but sympathise with her plight after her ‘recovery’ and it is so easy to be swept along by it all, but it’s not quite a ****, but almost.

lyndsay pearson

Good watch

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 10, 2014

Verified Purchase

My mum recommended this movie and am so glad I bought it Halle berry plays an Oscar winning performance in this film about a crack head mother who dumps her baby to score more drugs.she presumes he's dead only to find out few years later he's very much alive and living with a social worker and her family. She decided to give up drugs and try to get him back that's all I'm saying u will have to watch it to find out what happens very good film highly recommended!! :)

Nat

... so therefore in my opinion she isn't the most amazing actress in a lot of other films I have ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 13, 2017

Verified Purchase

I have a major girl crush on Halle berry but I think in a lot of her films she tends to over act so therefore in my opinion she isn't the most amazing actress in a lot of other films I have seen her in. But she is brilliant in this 1! I think it's 1 of her best performances! This and frankie and Alice are the best films she's done

victoria addison

Excellent

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 29, 2019

Verified Purchase

Love this film makes me cry

Steph. Andrews

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 28, 2015

Verified Purchase

I was blown away with how good this movie was and will keep it in my collection forever

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