Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story (2003) (TV)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Peter Levin

Writer (WGA):

Ronni Kern (written by)

Release Date:

7 April 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Tagline:

When there was nothing to believe in, she believed in herself.

Plot:

Based on a true story. Liz Murray is a young girl who is taken care of by her loving, but drug-addicted parents. Liz becomes homeless at 15 and after a tragedy comes upon her, she begins her work to finish high school. |

Plot Keywords:

Homeless Teenager | Character Name In Title

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Thora Birch	...	Liz Murray
Michael Riley	...	Peter
Robert Bockstael	...	David
Makyla Smith	...	Chris
Kelly Lynch	...	Jean Murray
Jennifer Pisana	...	Young Liz
Aron Tager	...	Pops
Ellen Page	...	Young Lisa
Marla McLean	...	Lisa
Marguerite McNeil	...	Eva
Amber Godfrey	...	Dawn
Seamus Morrison	...	Bobby
John Fulton	...	Old Irish Cop
Rejean Cournoyer	...	Young Irish Cop
Mauralea Austin	...	Miss Wanda

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Company:

Barnet Bain Films

Trivia:

The reason that Liz Murray left Harvard was so that she could be transferred to another school, which would be less expensive than Harvard (for which she was only receiving $12,000 a year with her scholarship) and also closer to her father, who is very ill will AIDs.

Quotes:

Liz Murray: My mother was dying. My father was gone. But I had to believe that their road would rise up to meet me.

Movie Connections:

Features "Jeopardy!" (1984)

I.V. to ivy

"Homeless to Harvard" tells the true story of Liz Murray who went from living with her druggie parents in a Bronx slum and living on the street while dumpster diving for food to earning a degree at Harvard University. This gritty TV flick is narrated by Thora Birch who registers a sterling performance as the wan, slump shouldered, stringy haired teen protag whose mother's death from AIDS set her free to focus her brain power and determination on academic success. Though this film is a worthy testament to the success of Liz Murray it is, in the final analysis, just another rags to

(intellectual) riches story. Not that big a deal with an obvious made-for-TV "feel", "Homeless to Harvard" is inspirational fodder for teen females and a worthy watch for Birch fans. (B-)