Breaking Through

I discovered this enthralling film by pure chance in a bout of late-night channel hopping. Although the people it portrays are vulnerable it stays honest and avoids becoming a wet blanket making it powerful, moving and informing. The two main players seemed to interact so well that suspension of disbelief was not a requirement - a tribute to their performance.

This film gives you a fresh perspective on life and offers valuable insights from the female perspective. Acting was spot-on for me.The A.S.L. (American Sign-Language) helps - I wonderful if the film would have taken on a different "look" if it had been in the British equivalent - a more abstracted animated visual language (in my honest (but very humble and possibly uninformed) opinion.

An excellent film especially for the small-screen in terms of reaching viewers.

I'm sorry to disagree with the masses here, but I found this movie to be terribly cloying. The acting was earnest, and Kellie Martin and JoBeth Williams do what they can with the script. But, please, spare us yet ANOTHER movie where a poor, victimized disabled person comes to terms with life via the help of a benevolent social worker who cares...REALLY CARES (and WHY is there the obligatory element of the social worker risking her job because she just CARES too damn much?).

Another point to make here: Jennifer, if you had to teach Kellie Martin how to seem Deaf for this role, let me give you a word of advice: how's about they hire a DEAF ACTRESS?! This movie highlighted all of the worst stereotypes about Deafness: Deaf are helpless, Deaf are victims, Deaf want to speak, Speaking is good, Hearning people must save Deaf people, Hearing people must play Deaf roles because Deaf people are incapable of acting their own experiences (Marlee Matlin aside) ...enough already.

By the way, I'm Hearing. But this stuff just gets on my nerves. When people praise, say, Adam Sadler in his portrayal of the Sidney Poitier story -- then I'll be impressed.

Breaking Through is one of those tricky movies for an actor/actress where they have to show the audience what they are made of. Kellie Martin has no speaking role in this film being a deaf and mute 14-year old girl who is kept locked up in her home since her birth by her abusive father. Kellie Martin, a veteran in TV-movie land, has to show us her capability to portray this girl by body-language and facial expression only - no words! Seeing this movie, you realize that most of the actors can only show us their emotions with the help of words put in their mouth by the scriptwriter. After the end credits you come to the conclusion that Kellie Martin is one of Hollywood's greatest actresses. This film is Kellie Martin at her best! Highly recommended!

Wow this movie hasn't aged well.

The classic theme of a Hearing savior to save the poor helpless Deaf person and show the path to enlightenment... Not realistic and offensive.

I've seen this kind of movie before, but there was a focus, an intensity in this one that made me watch it all the way through. You do get some dreadful gaping holes in some TV movies (and I usually switch off when I just can't stand the illogic any more) but this was OK; good acting from the main character (the mute illiterate), plausible emotions from the main carer who is putting her job on the line, and from the support cast, including the abusive parents. An hour and a half you'd be challenged to assemble a decent sandwich in.