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The Other Sister

  • 1999
  • PG-13
  • 2h 9m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
13K
YOUR RATING
Juliette Lewis and Giovanni Ribisi in The Other Sister (1999)
A mentally challenged young woman seeks independence by obtaining her own apartment and attending college while her family plans her sister's wedding.
Play trailer2:27
1 Video
18 Photos
Romantic ComedyComedyDramaRomance

A mentally challenged young woman seeks independence by obtaining her own apartment and attending college while her family plans her sister's wedding.A mentally challenged young woman seeks independence by obtaining her own apartment and attending college while her family plans her sister's wedding.A mentally challenged young woman seeks independence by obtaining her own apartment and attending college while her family plans her sister's wedding.

  • Director
    • Garry Marshall
  • Writers
    • Alexandra Rose
    • Blair Richwood
    • Garry Marshall
  • Stars
    • Juliette Lewis
    • Diane Keaton
    • Giovanni Ribisi
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.4/10
    13K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Garry Marshall
    • Writers
      • Alexandra Rose
      • Blair Richwood
      • Garry Marshall
    • Stars
      • Juliette Lewis
      • Diane Keaton
      • Giovanni Ribisi
    • 171User reviews
    • 52Critic reviews
    • 28Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:27
    Official Trailer

    Photos18

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    Top cast90

    Edit
    Juliette Lewis
    Juliette Lewis
    • Carla
    Diane Keaton
    Diane Keaton
    • Elizabeth
    Giovanni Ribisi
    Giovanni Ribisi
    • Danny
    Tom Skerritt
    Tom Skerritt
    • Radley
    Poppy Montgomery
    Poppy Montgomery
    • Caroline
    Sarah Paulson
    Sarah Paulson
    • Heather
    Linda Thorson
    Linda Thorson
    • Drew
    Joe Flanigan
    Joe Flanigan
    • Jeff
    Juliet Mills
    Juliet Mills
    • Winnie
    Tracy Reiner
    Tracy Reiner
    • Michelle
    Hope Alexander-Willis
    Hope Alexander-Willis
    • Marge
    Harvey Miller
    • Dr. Johnson
    Hector Elizondo
    Hector Elizondo
    • Ernie
    Almayvonne
    Almayvonne
    • Rachel
    • (as Alma Yvonne)
    Marvin Braverman
    • Uncle Sam Teacher
    Laura Lieblein Adam
    Laura Lieblein Adam
    • Statue of Liberty Teacher
    • (as Laura D'Arista)
    Linda Hawkins
    • Student Marilyn
    James Emery
    • Computer Teacher
    • Director
      • Garry Marshall
    • Writers
      • Alexandra Rose
      • Blair Richwood
      • Garry Marshall
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews171

    6.413.4K
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    Featured reviews

    10chelenablount-1

    The Other Sister was definitely a hit

    This movie was excellent. The family was well portrayed; from the beginning with the father not wanting to admit his daughter had a disability, to the mother dealing with the guilt of putting her daughter away by trying to make up for it almost a decade later.

    Excellent cast (Lewis, Ribisi, Keaton, Skerritt, etc.) and I loved how the disabled characters were believable. Sometimes movies depicting the disabled are no more than an insult. Lewis and Ribisi were incredibly believable in their roles, actually I had never seen Ribisi in a role previous to this one and - I have to be honest - I really did not think he was 'acting'. I thought the casting director had found someone disabled to fill the role. Once I found out the truth, I thought Ribisi should have been nominated for an Oscar!

    For the person who complained about the other story lines going on in the movie; a movie has to be multi-faceted, otherwise it can become boring. And I don't think the other story lines were too indulgent, they added flavor.

    And a mother that has a child whom she believes she has failed in the past yes, she will be a basket case and indecisive with every step she takes. That's what mothers do...it's the norm.

    Another great movie that was obviously overlooked by Hollywood. (So what else is new?)
    poostyx

    great movie

    okay this was a great movie, great acting, great story ... my dad even cried during this movie .. sure my mother cried like always during movies .. but my dad come on.. give this movie a 10 imdb under rated this
    Ethereal_angel_5

    Wonderful!

    This movie is definitely one of the best movie ive seen thus far. Its a feel good movie, filled with comedy, drama and well... a bit of action. I agree that its probably unrealistic....but, life is already so depressing,so a little pinch of fairytale element is always welcome. I don't think the movie is made for us to laugh at disabled people, it just helps us to know them a bit better, to give them the respect and chance of having a normal life.The acting is excellent, Lewis and Gibsi did a very good job. Also bonus points for keaton. Its a shame that it didn't do very well in the cinemas. But,overall, i think if you have a heart and a sense of humor, you will definitely enjoy this movie. Two thumbs up!
    10hickoryou812

    Outstanding!!!

    AS a brother of an mentally challenged sister, this movie captures my heart. The innocence and honesty the movie presents through out the film is outstanding. I have been to many functions involving mentally challenged kids and adults from Christmas parties to the Special Olympics. As a volunteer at these events I can speak from experience, that the true feelings were caught in this movie. If you ever lose the Christmas spirit, go to a Christmas event for the mentally challenged. You'll find it there and what the true meaning of the holiday spirit really is. The anticipation of Santa popping through the curtains, just to see his face. The gifts are secondary. The Special Olympics are a true test of the will to compete..NOT WIN. Everybody is a winner at these Olympics. It is the most evened playing field in all of sports. In ability and in the true manner and meaning of what sportsmanship really is.

    The Other sister captures the very true to the core daily lives of mentally challenged individuals. From the emotional outbreaks to the highest of enjoyment of a special moment, to the acceptance by others, to the point of "yes i can if you give me a chance Mother". My sister is living on her own with a roommate and works at Opportunity Enterprises for a living. Leading not only a very normal life, but a far productive environment that wasn't available many years ago. They see things in an honest way. The very things we complain about daily are the same things they wish to be given a chance to have. The portrayal of both Daniel and Carla is just tremendous acting. You just don't throw that together and say cut and print and release this movie. Dustin Hoffman studied for over a year for rain man with savant families. Producers were'nt sure that movie would ever be made because of the tender care Dustin Hoffman had to portray. The Other Sister is a tremendous movie about all the true features that mentally challenged people face and strive for in every day life. We should watch and learn from them. They see life for what it is, things we have forgotten in our material world. Kudos Gary Marshal for this wonderful film. I remember those times, and look forward to the continuing journey.
    7MarioB

    Cute little thing

    After 10 minutes, I was really afraid of the melodrama, the thousans violions of 90 % of the American movies. And we saw that a thousand times : movies with mental problem persons who are always so fine... (Le Huitième jour, Rain man, and also a film of the early 80's with Mickey Rooney - sorry, I don't remember the title!) But the simplicity of the whole thing charms me. The two young actors gives a superb performance. There are also very funny gags : the fanfare music that Danny loves and when Juliette Lewis looks in the book for sex positions). Perhaps the conservative aspects of the family irrates me a little bit : why in most American films the people have always to be rich and boring? A little bit of social reality should help this one. But I give a 7 out of 10 of this fine film. The best of the genre is Belgium's Le Huitième jour.

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    Related interests

    Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal in When Harry Met Sally... (1989)
    Romantic Comedy
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Juliette Lewis was just out of rehab when Marshall cast her. The insurance company for the film didn't want to insure her, so Marshall put up the money himself.
    • Goofs
      Carla tells her father she likes to call Daniel, Danny when he comes to pick her up from school. Throughout the rest of the movie, she never calls him Danny, only Daniel.
    • Quotes

      Carla Tate: I wonder who thought up sex in the first place, Danny?

      Daniel McMann: I-I think it was Madonna, actually.

    • Connections
      Featured in Savage Garden: The Animal Song (1999)
    • Soundtracks
      She Drives Me Crazy
      Written by Roland Gift and David Steele

      Published by EMI Virgin Music, Inc

      Performed by Fine Young Cannibals

      Courtesy of MCA Records and London Records 90 Ltd.

      Under license from Universal Music Special Markets

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    FAQ19

    • How long is The Other Sister?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 26, 1999 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Aprendiendo a vivir
    • Filming locations
      • All Saint's Episcopal Church - 132 N. Euclid Avenue, Pasadena, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Touchstone Pictures
      • Mandeville Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $35,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $27,807,627
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $6,624,445
      • Feb 28, 1999
    • Gross worldwide
      • $27,807,627
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 2h 9m(129 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1
      • 2.35 : 1

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