Marvin's Room 1996

Marvin, a man who has been bedridden due to a stroke for the past two decades, relies heavily on his daughter Bessie for care in their Florida home. His other daughter, Lee, however, left for Ohio twenty years ago, severing ties with her family. The situation takes a dire turn when Bessie’s doctor delivers the shocking news that she has leukemia, the same illness that claimed their mother in their youth. Desperate for a bone marrow transplant, she reaches out to her estranged sister.

In a twist of fate, Lee turns to her own children for support. She has a 10-year-old son, Charlie, and a 17-year-old son, Hank, who is currently residing in a mental institution after a troubling incident involving a fire at their home. Initially reluctant, Hank refuses to undergo testing to see if he can be a match for Bessie. However, the urgency of their situation prompts the family to gather and stay with Bessie.

As the situation unfolds, Lee finds herself contemplating nursing homes for their father, fearing the upheaval this might cause in her life. Yet, as they begin to confront their painful history, the family gradually starts to heal. Hank eventually agrees to be tested for Bessie’s sake, indicating a shift in their dynamic.

As Bessie’s condition deteriorates along with the realization that neither of the boys are suitable bone marrow donors, Lee comes to grips with the reality that she must take responsibility for her family. The film concludes on a poignant note, with Lee educating herself about her father’s medications. As she enters Marvin’s room to bring him lunch, the sunlight reflects off a mirror, bringing a smile to Marvin’s face – a moment capturing the fragile yet hopeful essence of their reconnected family.