I Am Sam

2001 · 2h12 · Film

Directed by Jessie Nelson

Starring Sean Penn, Michelle Pfeiffer, Dianne Wiest, Dakota Fanning, Richard Schiff, Loretta Devine, Marin Hinkle, Laura Dern, Brad Silverman, Joseph Rosenberg

Ideal when you feel… Sad / low

Sam, a neurodivergent man, has a daughter with a homeless woman who abandons them when they leave the hospital, leaving Sam to raise Lucy on his own. But as Lucy grows up, Sam's limitations as a parent start to become a problem and the authorities take her away. Sam convinces high-priced lawyer Rita to take his case pro bono and in turn teaches her the value of love and family.

Updated July 22, 2026

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