i am sam

What does it mean to be Mentally Challenged? Refers to those whose IQ is below and often have difficulties with social behavior. Around 3% of the population has some form of mental challenge. As a group, mentally challenged children usually walk and talk later, are slightly shorter and are usually more susceptible to physical problems and illnesses than other children. This movie will explore this life. Sean Penn plays Sam, and Dakota Fanning plays his daughter, Lucy.

What does it mean to be a foster child? A foster child is someone who is raised by foster parents. A foster parent is a person who acts as parent and guardian for a child in place of the child's natural parents but without legally adopting the child. In the movie, Lucy is placed with a foster family during the court proceedings.

“I Am Sam” Movie Summary: Sam Dawson has the mental capacity of a 7-year-old. He works at a Starbucks and is obsessed with the Beatles. He has a daughter with a homeless woman; she abandons them as soon as they leave the hospital. He names his daughter Lucy Diamond (after the Beatles song), and raises her. When Lucy reaches age 7 she intentionally holds back at school to avoid looking smarter than him. The authorities take her away, and Sam shames high-priced lawyer Rita Harrison into taking his case pro bono (for free). In the process, he teaches her a great deal about love, and whether it's really all you need.