Director: Jessie Nelson
Writers: Kristine Johnson, Jessie Nelson
Stars: Sean Penn, Michelle Pfeiffer and Dakota Fanning
Sam Dawson (Sean Penn), a man with a developmental disability, lives in Los Angeles, works at Starbucks, and is the sole guardian of his six-year-old daughter Lucy (Dakota Fanning), after her mother abandoned them. Despite his limitations, Sam is well-adjusted and has a supportive group of friends with developmental disabilities, as well as a kind, agoraphobic neighbor Annie (Dianne Wiest) who takes care of Lucy when Sam cannot. Though Sam provides a loving and caring environment for precocious Lucy, she soon surpasses his mental ability. Other children tease her for having a "retard" as a father, and she becomes too embarrassed to accept that she is more intellectually advanced than Sam. In preparation for a custody case, a social worker turns up at Lucy's birthday party and takes her away, allowing Sam two supervised visits per week.
On the advice of his friends, Sam approaches a high-powered lawyer, Rita Harrison (Michelle Pfeiffer), whose brusque manner, fast-paced schedule and difficult personal life have earned her a reputation as cold and unfeeling. In an attempt to prove to others that she isn't heartless, Rita surprisingly agrees to take on Sam's case pro bono. As they work together to secure Sam's parental rights, Sam unwittingly helps Rita with her family problems, including encouraging her to leave her philandering husband and repairing her fractious relationship with her son.
During the trial period, Lucy is living in a foster home with Randy Carpenter (Laura Dern
,
)but tries to convince Sam to help her run away, and continually escapes in the middle of the night to go to Sam's apartment, whereupon he immediately returns her. At the trial, Sam breaks down after opposing counsel convinces him that he is not capable of being a father. Ultimately, the foster family who planned to adopt Lucy decide to return her to Sam, with an arrangement that Randy will help him raise her.
The final scene depicts a soccer game, refereed by Sam, in which Lucy participates as a player. In attendance are the foster family, Sam's friendship group, and a newly-single Rita with her son.
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I am SAM is a very touching and a quite inspiring story, waking up human beings' consciousness. Although Sam has development disability,but the love he gave his daughter,Lucy, i can say it was far more than most normal developed man or father. He did with his greatest effort within his ability to get his daughter back to be with him. Sam is not smart, he does not able to make great business earning great money for Lucy. But, all he can give Lucy, a growing child was just love and it was the greatest among all that a father could give a child. This is why Lucy loves her father although she know that her father was different from her friends. He gave her courage, supports her, give her all his time beside working hours. The contrast between a rich and a poor, a higher class of living and the lower class family was clearly shown by Sam's and the lawyer's. Some parents just don't understand that what a child need was not their favourite toy or a Ferrari for 21th birthday,but is the care and love of father and mother or just some time to spend with parents. A wealthy family with no love and a poor family with love,which do you prefer? Yes,the world is cold and reality is cruel， but still there is warmth and humanity within the people. Which is something we should be glad and appreciate it. There are always ways to end things fairly and benefits everyone. Just if we are willing to sort things out our own way or a better way.
Spend some time on this movie, although it was not a great movie with great productions and great effects.
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