David's Mother is such a beautiful film. While I tend to agree that most made for TV movies are terribly weak and mediocre, but when they are good they're brilliant. I'd only say that about one in a thousand are as great as this one, people that like to think of them all the same have obviously never seen one like it. In terms of pure heartfelt emotion and genuine portrayals of human beings, in my opinion it's superior to most epic Hollywood dramas. To me the acting was great all around- Stockard Channing was good as the better-off but loving sister who fears for Sally's future but is gradually losing her patience, although she kind of overdoes it in a few scenes. I thought Sam Waterson was brilliant as a kind and sweet friend to Sally and David. I love him in the scene where he takes a firm hand to David and forces him to stop tantruming like a baby and learn how to press the damn button! They also made great use of Chris Sarandon. The flashback scene that shows how he removed himself out of the picture and Sally's life was very powerful and heartbreaking-I had teary eyes! Even the girl that played Sally's fiery daughter was very memorable and played her small part really well. She was more than a match for Alley's wit. I love a comical scene where they have a silly little slapping match over a phone call! ::: Michael Goorjian was just phenomenal in his rather demanding role. I've seen him in one or two other things, but nothing even approaching the moving performance he gives here. What can you say? He *is* that character, he seems a hundred percent absolutely real. If you were to see him in the street, you'd probably stare and think it was real. In fact, a few times in the picture you can see members of the public doing just that! When I first saw this I was mesmerized by him. He doesn't speak a word yet speaks volumes with his silence. I think he's his best in the final scene where he's all worked up and upset at the forced separation-which may be hurting him then, but is really all for the best. There's just one teensy little 'goof' that he does in the whole thing. During the carousal scene, bless im', he looks right at the camera for a split second! ::: Kistie Alley was also terrific and probably is what makes the film work the most. She's so funny and likable, but you get the sense that this woman has become hardened over the years and knows exactly how to use her sparkling wit to keep people at arm's length, and that she has little time or regard for anyone outside her own little world. She was indeed strong to take on the burden all by herself, but also such a coward, pushing people away and allowing her life to grow ever smaller, until it's just the two of them. She lives only for him, only feeling any self-worth by caring for her precious, poor helpless David, whom she gradually learns over the course of the flick is only as helpless as she allows him to be. And she learns the always difficult decision that, if she really loves him she's got to let him go. Not(as some viewers claim) forever, just long enough to let him grow and learn a little, and they'll both be so much happier for it... That's what makes this movie so great. No offence, but the other reviewers who say this drama and its ending are depressing don't know what they're talking about. It wasn't an institution at the end, and the scene of the two of them walking that plays over the credits isn't showing how it used to be, it's obviously later, showing that she's free to see him whenever she wants. This is a tremendously hopeful film, it once gave me a lot of strength. I love the realistic message that, although sometimes change can be painful at the time, when the worst part's over, then life can truly start to begin. What really was depressing was the rotten situation they were in before. It's frightening how isolated we can become from everything, and it's not as hard as you might think. It's such a great portrayal of hope because it's done in such an honest and true to life way. You can turn it around, y'know? You can have a life, and it can all start with something as small as pressing a button on a VCR! Take care, bye now.