Sarah (Cameron Diaz), Anna (Abigail Breslin), and Kate Fitzgerald (Sofia Vassilieva)

I know I take life for granted, but I’m not the only one who is guilty. Everyone is when we shouldn't be. We are here, we are breathing, and that really should be enough. The rest is just bonus. This is not only a book, but a movie too, and both are outstanding. My Sisters Keeper would have to be my favorite film. It was directed by Nick Cassavetes and released in June of 2009. It is a very emotional movie, one that I can’t help but cry while watching every time. It tells the most beautiful and sad story, so it is nearly impossible not to. The main characters are Sarah (Cameron Diaz), Anna (Abigail Breslin), and Kate Fitzgerald (Sofia Vassilieva). The movie was quite successful, earning $30 million in budget. Its a wonderful story with a heartbreaking ending. Everyone can gain something by watching it.

Kate Fitzgerald was diagnosed with cancer when she was very young. As the years passed, it continued to get worse and worse. Her parents were not compatible donors, so they had another baby, or a donor child in order for Kate to have a perfect match. They named this baby Anna. Since the day Anna was born, she had had numerous surgeries to try to help save her sisters life. Her mom had always been very driven and would do absolutely anything to help Kate, and Anna was that one saving grace. By the time Anna got older, she finally came to the conclusion that she was tired of being poked and prodded by needles. Kate was in need of a kidney, and that kidney would be from Anna. Anna didn’t want to go through with something so dangerous, and not to mention life altering. She was tired of her wants and needs being ignored because her sister was so sick. As a result, she decided to medically emancipate herself, or in other words, no longer be that donor child, suing her parents for "the rights to her own body." The case was taken to court, Anna and her mom Sarah on different sides of the argument. Everyone, including Anna, knew what Kates outcome would be if the surgeries were stopped. It would be an incredibly difficult decision for anyone to make. The surgeries had risks and complications, but with them, her sister would get more time to live. So, do you save your sisters life, or your own? It is easily one of the saddest movies. The actors did an incredible job, especially Sofia Vassilieva. She portrayed Kate, the girl with cancer. She had just the right emotions and attitude. Every aspect of her was spot on. No better person couldve played Kates role. Cameron Diaz, a wonderful actress, also played a wonderful character. She was the mother Sarah. Sarah fought so hard for her daughters life. I couldn’t imagine the strength it took to wake up every day, not knowing if it was going to be the end or not. Even though she had other children to care for, Kate was the one who was dying, so Sarah would put everything she had into saving Kates life in hopes of her having some miracle recovery. Cameron Diaz was absolutely perfect. But that could easily go for every other actor in the movie too. There couldn’t have been better people chosen. I believe the director was trying to tell us about how fighting takes an endless amount of strength. After a while, exhaustion begins to envelope everyone and sooner or later, the fighting has to end. Some, however, just don’t want to stop.

The idea of this movie was to deliver the story of ones hardships and how brutal life can be. Those of us who are healthy do not realize how good we actually have it. There are going to be tough moments, but we just have to learn to overcome. We have to try and make things as best we can while we still have time. Thats all we can really do. No one knows when the clock will stop ticking. The audience can learn that life is not just given, but awarded almost. We shouldnt let it pass us by. We should live it up every day we are here. Not only myself, but many others fell in love with the film as well. Many tears can be shed, but many smiles can be smiled. Critics and people like myself all feel similarly. Sure, it makes me sad. Yes, it makes me cry enough tears to form an ocean. I don’t particularly like feeling that way, but My Sisters Keeper is such an inspiring movie, I find the pain of watching it well worth it. I love every second, every character, and every word throughout. After watching this movie so many times, I should honestly be more thankful. I am so incredibly lucky to be healthy. As I previously mentioned, I take life for granted. However, after writing this essay and watching the movie once more, I feel as though I’ve finally convinced myself I should be doing otherwise. I’ve been letting life pass me by, but no more. My end is someday, but I shouldnt worry or fear whenever that day is. I should just be glad I am alive right now. I am here, living and breathing. That should really be enough. And from now on, it will be.

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