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What Makes a Family

Play trailer Poster for What Makes a Family TV-14 2001 2h 0m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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Lesbian partners Janine Nielssen (Brooke Shields) and Sandy Cataldi (Cherry Jones) decide to have a baby through artificial insemination. Sandy opts to be the biological mother, and she gives birth to a baby girl. Sadly, Sandy develops severe lupus, and dies a few years later. While Janine is intent on raising her daughter, Sandy's parents attempt to gain custody of the child. Determined not to give up custody, Janine seeks legal aid to help her case.

Critics Reviews

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Steven Oxman Variety 10/20/2018
Lifetime's What Makes a Family certainly doesn't break, or even strain, any molds, and it's not particularly nuanced in presenting legal argument, but it's well-executed all around and makes its emotional point effectively. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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02/22/2013 For me is a very nice heartbreaking story , many people have to learn from this Movie ! See more 05/27/2012 Great story about child custody and gay parenting! Very interesting! Woohoo for another film with Whoopi Goldberg! :) See more 09/27/2011 Great movie, very sad though. The law is so upsetting in it's standardized harsh choices which do no always apply to each individual which are enforced all the same, regardless of situation. A good true story of justice, love and unconventional relationships. See more 12/22/2010 Hurried like a screenplay that was supposed to be a book. No time to really start caring about the characters before they're pitifully falling all over themselves. Just annoying in the end, unfortunately. See more 10/18/2010 I know this is based on a true story and is about gay rights but it was not done well it was predictable and uninteresting where it had serious potential. See more 06/29/2010 Such a sad story, very compelling. Two thumbs up! See more Read all reviews
What Makes a Family

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Cast & Crew

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Maggie Greenwald

Director

Brooke Shields

Janine Nielssen

Anne Meara

Evelyn Cataldi

Cherry Jones

Sandy Cataldi

Al Waxman

Frank Cataldi

Melanie Nicholls-King

Nora
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What Makes a Family

What Makes a Family (2001) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Lesbian partners Janine Nielssen (Brooke Shields) and Sandy Cataldi (Cherry Jones) decide to have a baby through artificial insemination. Sandy opts to be the biological mother, and she gives birth to a baby girl. Sadly, Sandy develops severe lupus, and dies a few years later. While Janine is intent on raising her daughter, Sandy's parents attempt to gain custody of the child. Determined not to give up custody, Janine seeks legal aid to help her case.
Director
Maggie Greenwald
Producer
Wendy Grean
Screenwriter
Robert L. Freedman
Production Co
Whoop Inc., Barwood Films, Columbia TriStar Television, Storyline Entertainment
Rating
TV-14 (D)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (TV)
Jan 22, 2001
Runtime
2h 0m