The Miracle Worker

After a severe illness at the age of one leaves her both blind and deaf, Helen Keller grows up unable to communicate and is easily frustrated. Having become a wild and unruly child, her overwhelmed parents ask for help from a school for the blind, which sends them young Annie Sullivan (Anne Bancroft), a strong-willed teacher with little patience for the family’s habit of giving in to Helen’s tantrums.

A battle of wills soon begins, as Annie refuses to give up on the stubborn Helen. Suffering from her own vision problems, Annie remembers her own difficult childhood, and is determined to help Helen find a way through her wall of darkness and silence. Still, Annie’s demanding methods often clash with Helen’s parents, who struggle to understand why firmness is an act of love rather than cruelty.

Based on a true story, The Miracle Worker is an inspiring story about the power of perseverance, the necessity of discipline, and the beauty of human connection. Though not officially rated in the US, it would likely be PG, and is appropriate for the whole family, though some of Helen’s more intense outbursts and the film’s emotionally demanding drama may be better appreciated by older children.

Runtime: 1 hour, 46 minutes
Rated PG
96% on Rotten Tomatoes
IMDb Parents Guide
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