Life and death; are they part of each other, or do they complete each other? Does death threaten life? should we be scared of it or should we embrace it? is harder to be dying or to watch someone die?

we all think of these questions at one point or another in our lives, and a select number of people are faced with a truth that forces them to go head to head with these questions and make a decision as to what side they are on.

In my sister’s keeper based one the novel by Jodi Picoult, we get the rare pooprtunity to walk in the shoes of characters that sit on all sides of these questions.

Anna is the younger sister who was genetically created to be an organ donnor and savior of her older sister Kate.

Kate suffers from acute promyelocytic leukemia, a form of canser that has been consitently thratening her existance, with constant relapses forcing her to endure painful therapy and go through the abnormal if a sick child.

Sarah is the mother who has given up her life as a lawyer in order to take care of her family, Overprotective and overeactive her fear makes her out to be the ‘bad guy’ in most situations.

Brian is the firefigher father who always appears to be the sound of reason that balances things between the family members and between right and wrong

Lastly Jesse is the oldest brother, who seems forgotten by his parents who have a need to give all their attention to their younger daughters.

The Fitzgerild family is torn between those who are facing death and those who are scared of losing a loved one to it. some appear brave and others break down in a humane dramatic unfolding of events that pull tears out of any fully grown adult.

The performances are mesmerizing by all, Cameron Diaz shines in one of her few dramatic roles, playing the mother of the household for the very first time, Jason Patick and Evan Ellingson are amazing as the father and brother and Alec Baldwin as lawyer Campbell Alexander but all hats have to be raised, for the youngest of the cast, Abigail Breslin and Sophia Vassilieva who lead the movie in the roles of the two sisters Anna and Kate.

The movie takes viewers on a ride of emotions making us constantly take different sides, being with or against characters’ opinions, as we watch the past and present beautifully blended together in an impressive editing process, until the end reveals what really is happening and why things had taken the course they had.

I haven’t read the novel so I can’t comment on weather the movie stayed true to its source, but either way it was impressive all on its own and has made me want to read the book, to learn more about this amazing family.

I hope this encourages you all to go ahead and watch the movie and maybe even read the novel.