Marvin's Room (1996)

Written by Scott McPherson

Directed by Jerry Zaks

Running Time: 94 minutes (approx)

Production Year: 1996

Rating: 12 Certificate

Production Country: USA

Filmed in Colour

Lee (Meryl Streep) & Bessie (Diane Keaton) are sisters who have been estranged for 17 years.

Bessie has spent the last 20 years looking after her post-stroke father but now she has developed leukemia and she needs Lee and her family's help in finding a bone marrow donor for her only chance of survival.

We soon discover that Lee's son, Hank (Leonardo DiCaprio) has been committed to a mental institute after setting fire to the family home and her younger son, Charlie (Hal Scardino) just seems to be disinterested with everything.

As first Lee is tested and then the boys for the compatibility of their marrow with Bessie's, the two women take stock of their lives and rediscover the meaning of family.

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Cast

Meryl Streep		Lee
Leonardo DiCaprio		Hank
Diane Keaton		Bessie
Robert de Niro		Dr. Wally
Hume Cronyn		Marvin
Gwen Verdon		Ruth
Hal Scardino		Charlie
Dan Hedaya		Bob
Margo Martindale		Dr. Charlotte
Cynthia Nixon		Retirement Home Director
Kelly Ripa		Coral
John Callahan		Lance
Olga Merediz		Beauty Shop Lady
Joe Lisi		Bruno
Steve DuMouchel		Gas Station Guy
Bitty Schram		Janine
Lizbeth MacKay		Novice
Helen Stenborg		Nun on Phone
Sally Parrish		Nun