Q103314

The movie I Am Sam stars Dakota Fanning and Sean Penn. Sean Penn plays Sam Dawson, an autistic father fighting for custody of his daughter, Lucy Dawson (played by Dakota Fanning). This is a gripping and heartfelt account of the strength of psychological self (Lifespan Development p. 248) and love between a father and daughter. Because of Sam Dawson’s autism, society has deemed him unfit as a father. But, despite the way society sees him, Sam believes that he is loving and instinctual enough to be a good father. Sam’s sense of psychological self strengthens him to find a lawyer to represent him in court. Because of Sam’s autism, he is seen as a lower class human being by his peers. Despite Sam’s social status (Lifespan Development p. 292), Sam has a high enough self esteem (Lifespan Development p.281) to view himself as a good father. Same enlists the help of Rita Williams (played by Michelle Pfeiffer) as a pro bono lawyer to help him stand the custody hearing for his child. Lucy loves her father and despite the pressures and dramas of her situation fully anticipates her father gaining legal custody of her.

Bee, Helen; Boyd, Denise. //Lifespan Development //, Pearson Learning Solutions, 2012

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