Sisters is a movie that will move viewers everywhere. It stirs the emotions and reminds us of what is important in life— the people in our lives. Hannah Heinz (spelled “just like the ketchup name” as she likes to tell people) has cystic fibrosis and has to be careful about laughing too much—it can cause her to start coughing, making it almost impossible to stop. She lives with her mother Doris (her dad left years before) and just longs to be well. She used to play soccer for the Lady Hawks and she was quite good at it. But now, at age 16, she can’t play anymore due to her health.
In one of those unlikely pairings, a girl a few years younger named Sammy also loves soccer and takes a liking to Hannah. Hannah believes she is too old to be friends with the 12-year-old Sammy, but Hannah can’t help but like her. When she learns that Sammy wanted to go to a summer soccer camp and can’t afford to go, she becomes her coach and—eventually—her good friend. They become like sisters, and Hannah winds up giving Sammy a 13th birthday party.
Hannah’s friends Chantal and Austin are a bad influence on her, taking her to parties and drinking. But soon Hannah wakes up to the fact that Sammy is more of the kind of person she needs to hang with, and Sammy needs her. Sammy’s mother died when she was only 3. Hannah becomes close to Sammy’s family, including her dad Jack and younger brother Jimmy. During her various battles with cystic fibrosis, Hannah is given hope, such as when Sammy and Doris put on a fundraiser to raise money for the disease. And when Hannah is interviewed on a local news channel, mail pours in from all over the country, not to mention other countries, and Hannah is amazed at the support of the people of the world. As Hannah so aptly puts it, “Someday c.f. will not stand for cystic fibrosis but for “cure found.”
Hannah receives hope that she might be a candidate for a double lung transplant which would enable her to live a normal life. But then a terrible infection wreaks havoc on her body, and soon it appears that Hannah’s family and friends might have to prepare to say goodbye to her.
This movie features a remarkable performance by Jane Riness as Hannah, as well as Kimberlee Moody as Sammy, and an interesting story along with a message of hope which can be found in the Bible and in Christ. Since it contains some mature themes such as death, and it’s mentioned that some underage teens drink and one of them was driving, we are awarding the film our Dove-Approved Seal for Ages 12+.
The Dove Take:
This film has it all! It is dramatic, will sadden you, will inspire you and will remind you that there is always hope, even beyond the grave, because of the grace of God.
