The Sweetest Gift
Screenplay by Rosa Jordan
1998 Parents’ Choice Award
Namic
Vision Award Nomination
for
Best Children’s Program
Directors
Guild of America
Award
Nomination for Outstanding
Direcorial
Achievement in 1998
(Stuart
Margolin)
Daytime Emmy Nominations:
Outstanding
Children’s Special
Julian
Fowles, Executive Producer
Patrick
Whitley, Producer
Outstanding
Performer in a Children’s
Special
Diahann
Carroll
Outstanding
Directing in a Children’s
Special
Stuart
Margolin
Young
Artists Awards to:
Brent Meyer, Marc Donato, Dylan Provencher, and Kristin Fairlie.
Film Festivals
1999 Cape Town Children’s Film Festival
1998 Chicago International Children’s Film Festival
1999 Berlin International Kinderfilmfest
Review from the Hollywood Reporter, February 1998
Although initially this “Showtime Original Pictures for Kids” movie about families and racial attitudes looks like it’s going to be just another sappy morality tale, it delivers a tremendous emotional punch while making some very important ethical and social points along the way.
Working from Rosa Jordan’s eloquent, restrained script and benefitting from Stuart Margolin’s patient and caring direction, a superb cast is led by Helen Shaver in a moving performance. She is a single mom bringing up three kids in rural Florida. Her portrayal and the story illuminate the values that mainstream America cherishes most.
Airing as part of Showtime’s Black History Month Celebration, The Sweetest Gift features outstanding performances by Diahann Carroll and Tish Campbell as neighbors and Dylan Provencher, Kristin Fairlie, and Marc Donato as the children. It is indeed a gift.
-Lawrence Vittes-