Losing Isaiah

"Who decides what makes a mother?"

1995 1h 46m EN

👍

6.5

SOLID

★6.5TMDB · 110

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Khaila Richards, a crack-addicted single mother, accidentally leaves her baby in a dumpster while high and returns the next day in a panic to find he is missing. In reality, the baby has been adopted by a warm-hearted social worker, Margaret Lewin, and her husband, Charles. Years later, Khaila has gone through rehab and holds a steady job. After learning that her child is still alive, she challenges Margaret for the custody.

“Who decides what makes a mother?”

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Cast

Jessica Lange
Margaret Lewin
Halle Berry
Khaila Richards
David Strathairn
Charles Lewin
Cuba Gooding Jr.
Eddie Hughes
Daisy Eagan
Hannah Lewin
Marc John Jefferies
Isaiah
Samuel L. Jackson
Kadar Lewis
Joie Lee
Marie

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Stephen Gyllenhaal
Writers: Naomi Foner
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 45% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

31 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Stephen Gyllenhaal, shot by Andrzej Bartkowiak. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Mark Isham. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Harvey Rosenstock shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Jessica Lange and Halle Berry and David Strathairn carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Who decides what makes a mother?".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0113691 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Stephen Gyllenhaal directs. Andrzej Bartkowiak behind the camera. Mark Isham scores. Harvey Rosenstock cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Earned back only 45% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
231 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Directed by Stephen Gyllenhaal, shot by Andrzej Bartkowiak. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Mark Isham. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Harvey Rosenstock shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Jessica Lange and Halle Berry and David Strathairn carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "Who decides what makes a mother?".
8IMDB entry: tt0113691 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Classified under 20 themes, including "self-abandonment", "child abuse", "mother", "baby".