What makes it different from others?

Truly Dreadful Film

I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction

Hard to imagine a guy like me enjoying this kind of film. It has a rocky start with some clichés, and some clunky exposition, but once it settles into its own rhythm it is a wonderful, moving little film. Virtually a tour-de-force for Rebecca De Mornay, she effortlessly makes us care for Arlene and hope for a good outcome for her. Supporting cast seems to do really well and are effective as well. How did Rebecca not get an Emmy Award nomination for this? Probably says more about the Emmy awards than it does about this film. If you want a really moving, beautifully acted little drama to while away an hour or so, you could do a whole lot worse. And Rebecca has rarely looked more simply beautiful. Watch it.

This has got to be the single worst film version of a play ever made. The movie is, first off all, horrific. The acting is horrific, the plot is horrific (which completely strays from the award winning play of the same title and characters), and the filming is horrific. Unless you are a stay-at-home mom who believes that Lifetime's made for t.v. movies are the only source of good acting in the world, burn this piece if it ever comes into your hands and do the world a favor. The play that this is supposed to be based on (it virtually isn't, they add so much worthless garbage in this film, and one of the major characters of the play is completely absent with no explanation.) All and all, if any movie has ever earned itself one out of ten stars, it is this film. It is a personal insult to anyone who has ever sought to produce a good piece of theater or film.

This film kept my interest right to the very end and gave me lots of food for thought afterwards. Everything about this film is down to earth, just like everyday Life is. Rebecca DeMornay,(Arlene Holsclaw) starts out running away from prison through the woods with a child in her belly and hitchhikes to the nearest town. Lots of trouble starts in this town which you cannot even imagine. Arlie, (which she hates to be called, perferring Arlene) tries to live a normal life after being introduced to religion from (Richard Jenkins) Prison Chaplin. She is helped by a kind soul (Carole Mitchell Leon) Ruby, who sort of takes her under her wing and tries to get her a job as a dishwasher, however, Arlene perfers to sell her fantastic knitting art work. She runs into an old devil of a boyfriend (Robert Knepper) Carl, who tries to become her pimp and tells her to stop reading the Bible. Arlene is tricked out of her prision money to the tune of $500.00 and seems to wear the same old prison dress she was issued at the beginning of the picture. Your heart goes out to Arlene, she just cannot get things to work out for her and life deals her a very bad hand in everyway possible. Her mother, (Ellen Burstyn) is a heartless and evil mommie who gives her child away and watches her own flesh and blood be molested by a family member. This picture clearly depicts what mother's and father's can do to their children with physical and mental abuse. Arlene represents all the young girls who have gone through CHILD ABUSE and have never had a normal life since. It is a sad picture, but a picture that has a great deal of TRUTH and realism. Young men and Young woman should SPEAK OUT RIGHT AWAY! whenever these people( family or friends) try to abuse you in anyway.

This is probably the best movie Rebecca De Mornay has ever done! Great Made for TV movie. It's a touching story of an ex-con (De Mornay)trying to get her life back together. Don't wanna give too much of the plot away. Rebecca De Mornay does such an excellent acting job. She makes you really care for the character! If you haven't seen it, I highly suggest it!