I Am Sam
Brief Synopsis
A mentally challenged man fights to maintain custody of his 7-year-old daughter.
Cast & Crew
Read More
Jessie Nelson
Director
Sean Penn
Sam Dawson
Michelle Pfeiffer
Rita
Dakota Fanning
Lucy
Dianne Wiest
Annie
Loretta Devine
Margaret Calgrove
Film Details
Also Known As
Sam je suis Sam
MPAA Rating
Genre
Drama
Release Date
2001
Production Company
Aon/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services; Avery Pix; Bedford Falls Company; Cast & Crew Entertainment Services; Cbs Studios; Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment, Inc.; Columbia Pictures; Deluxe Entertainment Services Group; Fotokem Film & Video; Hollywood Animals; International Film Guarantors; J.L. Fisher, Inc.; Media Ventures; New Line Cinema; New Line Cinema; Pacific Title & Art Studio; Panavision, Ltd.; Paramount Pictures Scoring Stage M; Paskal Lighting; Playback Technologies, Inc.; Sony Music; Sony Music Studios, London; Soundelux; Todd-Ao; Yu+Co
Distribution Company
NEW LINE CINEMA (NEW LINE); 20th Century Fox International; Contender Entertainment; Distribution Company; Fs Film Oy; Kinepolis Film Distribution; Metropolitan Filmexport; Myndform; New Line Cinema; Nexo Digital; RCV Distribution; SF Studios; Shochiku Company, Ltd.; Tripictures; Videocine; Village Roadshow Limited; Warner Bros. Pictures International
Location
Los Angeles, California, USA
Technical Specs
Duration
2h 12m
Synopsis
Sam Dawson is a mentally-challenged father raising his daughter Lucy with the help of an extraordinary group of friends. As Lucy turns seven and begins to intellectually surpass her father, their close bond is threatened when their situation comes under the scrutiny of a social worker who wants Lucy placed in foster care. Faced with a seemingly unwinnable case, Sam vows to fight the legal system and forms an unlikely alliance with Rita Harrison, a high-powered, self-absorbed attorney who initially takes his case pro bona as a challenge from her colleagues. On the surface the two couldn't be further apart, but in reality they are subtly similar. Sam's compulsive nature is mirrored in Rita's more socially acceptable obsessive-compulsive nature. Together they struggle to convince the system that Sam deserves to get his daughter back and, in the process, fuse a bond that results in a unique testament to the power of unconditional love.
Director
Jessie Nelson
Director
Cast
Sean Penn
Sam Dawson
Michelle Pfeiffer
Rita
Dakota Fanning
Lucy
Dianne Wiest
Annie
Loretta Devine
Margaret Calgrove
Richard Schiff
Turner
Laura Dern
Randy Carpenter
Mary Steenburgen
Doctor Blake
Brad Allan Silverman
Brad
Joseph Rosenberg
Joe
Stanley Desantis
Robert
Doug Hutchison
Ifty
Rosalind Chao
Lily
Ken Jenkins
Judge Mcneily
Wendy Phillips
Miss Wright
Mason Lucero
Conner Rhodes
Scott Paulin
Duncan Rhodes
Bobby Cooper
George
Kit Mcdonough
Miss Davis
Kimberly Scott
Gertie
Michael B Silver
Doctor Jaslow
Caroline Keenan
Rebecca
Eileen Ryan
Estelle
Marin Hinkle
Patricia
Chase Bebak
Willy
Rafer Weigel
Bruce
Emiko Parise
Nurse
Pamela Dunlap
Grace
Brent Spiner
Shoe Salesman
David Nathan Schwartz
Principal
Kathleen Robertson
Big Boy Waitress
Karen Bankhead
Rita'S Colleague
Janet Adderley
Obnoxious Mom
Katie Mcgloin
Cristina
Steven Maines
Collin
Dennis Fanning
Vice Cop
David Poynter
Cafeteria Worker
R.d. Call
Cop At Park
John Paizis
Starbuck'S Father
Russ Fega
Starbuck'S Angry Man
Erinn Seaghda Rice Goletz
Starbuck'S Barrister
Julie Claire
Starbuck'S Costumer
Marnie Martin
Starbuck'S Woman
Tony Abatemarco
Court Clerk
Will Wallace
Bill Carpenter
Scott Weintraub
Scarecrow
Nicholas Mele
Booking Cop
Brian Bialick
Brian
Molly Gordon
Callie
Nora Kroopf
Sara
Allison Thormahlen
Lucy (As Infant)
Jillian Thormahlen
Lucy (As Infant)
Ryan Williams
Lucy (6 Months-Old)
Felicity Ann Forbes
Lucy (18 Months-Old)
Makindra Sherry Forbes
Lucy (18 Months-Old)
Elle Fanning
Lucy (2 Years 10 Months-Old)
Amanda Lehaf
Lucy (4 Years-Old)
Michael G Fisher
Performer
Gregori Renta
Lead Person
Crew
Nellie Adami
Production Coordinator
Suzanne Anaya
Extras Casting
Giorgio Armani
Michelle Pfeiffer'S Clothing Provider
Bob Arterburn
Driver
Mary-gail Artz
Casting
Rick Ash
Re-Recording Mixer
Derek Avila
Assistant Location Manager
Douglas Axtell
Sound Mixer
Andy Babin
Driver
James Bailey
Foley Artist
D'marcus Baptist
Title Artwork
Cassandra Barbour
Other
Art Bartels
Key Grip
Mychael Bates
Property Master
Peter J Bates
Set Dresser
Robert Bernard
Graphic Designer
Buffy Beyer
Assistant (To David Scott Rubin)
George Billinger Iii
Steadicam Operator
George Billinger Iii
"A" Camera Operator
Ron Bolanowski
Special Effects Coordinator
Steve Borgese
Other
Gene C Bowen
Props Maker Gang Boss
Julian Bratolyubov
Music Preparation
Mary Brezovich
Casting Associate
Paul Broucek
Music Executive
Kayce Brown
Set Assistant (To Michelle Pfeiffer)
Scott Brown
Assistant Location Manager
Troy Brown
Stunts
Pat Buffolineo
Set Dresser
Gail Clark Burch
Supervising Adr Editor
John Burnham
Special Thanks
Ted Caloroso
"B" Camera 1st Assistant
Michael Camello
Assistant Sound Editor
Janell Cannon
Other
Paul Carden
Supervising Sound Editor
Dave Carpenter
Bass
Laurie Cartwright
Other
Deborah Cass
Production Executive
Michael Catanzo
Driver
Nick Cave
Song Performer ("Let It Be")
Jan Cerwonka
Other
Richard Chew
Editor
Bruce Chimerofsky
Best Boy Grip
Carlos Chirez
Electrician
Conrad Chitwood
Construction Coordinator
Scott Cler
Production Assistant
Erin Cochran
Art Director
Barbara Cohen
Casting
Amondo Colhoun
Props Maker
Tom Cook
Driver
Elisabeth Cooper
Title Artwork
James F Cornick
Rigging Gaffer
Jeff Couch
Transportation Captain
Andre Crawford
Camera Loader
Sheryl Crow
Song Performer ("Mother Nature'S Son")
Black Crowes
Song Performer ("Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds")
Alan Dangerio
Michelle Pfeiffer'S Hairstylist
Elliot Davis
Other
Elliot Davis
Director Of Photography
Howie Day
Song Performer ("Help")
Sandy De Crescent
Music Contractor
Michael De Luca
Executive Producer
Michael De Luca
Studio Executive
Terry Delsing
Music Editor
Lisa Campbell Demaine
Associate Producer
Lisa Campbell Demaine
1st Assistant Director
Susie Desanto
Costume Designer
Peter Detoffoli
Driver
Craig L Diantonio
Other
Roy Dickson
Props Maker
Raffi Djenderedjian
Children'S Art
George Doering
Ukes & Guitars
Ken Drake
Rigging Grip
Kenneth Drake
Grip
James Duggan
Grip
Jim Duggan
Grip
Arnold Durazo
Props Maker
Ian Edelman
Editorial Production Assistant
Jeff Egan
Production Safety
Bill Emri
Other
Colby Enders
Apprentice Editor
Steve Erdody
Solo Cello
Robert Estrella
Grip
Russ Fega
Location Manager
L Ernestine Fields
Special Thanks
Sean Fine
Rigging Electrician
Lisa Finkelor
Title Artwork
Lynne Finkelor
Special Thanks
Denise Fischer
Key Makeup
Eric Flickinger
Other
Ben Folds
Song Performer ("Golden Slumbers")
Lynda Foote
Costume Supervisor
Jason Ford
Title Artwork
Bruce L. Fowler
Original Music
Lily Frank
Other
Terry Friedman
Special Thanks (Judge Terry Friedman)
Carla Fry
Executive In Charge Of Production
Elisabeth Fry
Department Head Makeup Artist
Linda Fuller
Children'S Art
Tom Furginson
Set Dresser
David Galbraith
"A" Camera 1st Assistant
Jenifer Galves
Electrician
Audrey Geisel
Special Thanks
Theodor S. Geisel
Other
Jennifer Gentile
Set Decorator
Brian Gersh
Special Thanks
Andy Gershon
Special Thanks
Andree Gibbs
Stunts
Mimi Gilbert
Stand-In (For Dakota Fanning)
Troy Gilbert
Stunt Coordinator
Andy Gill
Stunt Coordinator
Jack Gill
Stunt Coordinator
Juliandra Gillen
Stand-In (For Michelle Pfeiffer)
Emily Glatter
Supervising Production Coordinator
Kevin Globerman
Other
Lina Godhouse
Stand-In (For Dakota Fanning)
Bryan Gordon
Special Thanks
Molly Gordon
Special Thanks
Molly Gordon
Children'S Art
Stephanie J Gordon
Set Designer
Martin Goulding
Other
Jody Graham
Special Thanks
Dennis Gray
Dialogue Editor
Lamarr Gray
Rigging Electrician
Gavin Greenaway
Score Conductor
Bill Greenberg
Electrician
Jayne Grodd
Special Thanks
Bob Gruen
Other
Michael Gulbin
Rigging Grip
Josh Gummersall
Assistant (To Marshall Herskovitz)
Jason Guttiererz
Production Assistant
David Haldeman
Driver
Robert Hale
Paint Foreman
Barbara A Hall
Co-Producer
Barbara A Hall
Unit Production Manager
James Halty
Stunts
Trent Hara
Assistant Production Coordinator
Chris Harhoff
Additional Steadicam Operator
Ben Harper
Song Performer ("Strawberry Fields Forever")
David Hawkins
Title Artwork
Judy Heinzen
Assistant Location Manager
Marshall Herskovitz
Producer
Eddie Hice
Stunts
Tod Holcomb
Additional Music Editor
Thomas J Huff
Stunts
Ron Hugo
Location Scout
Jeff Hyatt
Paint Utility
Kate Hyman
Special Thanks
Jerry Jackson
Driver
Marc Jacobs
Production Resources
Scott Jacobs
Boom Operator
Jeremy Jaklevick
Driver
Sidney Javet
Set Dresser
Adam Jenkins
Re-Recording Mixer
Kristine Johnson
Screenwriter
Giselle Gurza Junco
Key Set Production Assistant
Al Kaminsky
Driver
Scott Kanyuck
Production Attorney
Caren Kaplow
Assistant (To Michelle Pfeiffer)
Mark S. Kaufman
Music Clearance Executive
Brian Kay
Driver
Anthony Q Kennedy
Construction Medic
Joe Killian
Driver
June Kim
Post-Production Accountant
Henry King
Stunts
Kim Kirschbaum
Painter
Joanne Kissack
Set Costumer
Susan Kistler
Key Set Costumer
Darren Knaus
Assistant Sound Editor
Jack Knight
Props Maker
Karen Kopkins
Special Thanks
Buz Kramer
Craft Service Assistant
Joel Kramer
Stunt Coordinator
James Kratz
Carpenter
James Kratz
Utility
Mark Kuglin
Driver
William Laczko
Driver
A. Welch Lambeth
Transportation Coordinator
Graham Larson
Assistant (To Edward Zwick)
Greg Lay
Props Maker
Lane Leavitt
Stunt Coordinator
John Lennon
Songs ("Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" "Two Of Us" "Across The Universe" "I'M Looking Through You" "In A Swingin' Mood" "Strawberry Fields Forever" "Golden Slumbers" "You'Ve Got To Hide Your Love Away" "Blackbird" "Mother Nature'S Son")
John Lesher
Special Thanks
Jody Levin
Executive In Charge Of Production
Ted Lewis
Grip
Manny Leyva
Other
Ed Limato
Special Thanks
Gino Limjoco
Title Artwork
Cris Lombardi
"B" Camera Operator
Annette Lorant
Makeup Artist
Diane Lucas
Adr Recordist
Malcolm Luker
Score Recorder & Mixer
Steven Maines
Stand-In (For Sean Penn)
Aimee Mann
Song Performer ("Two Of Us")
Patrick Martin
Props Maker Gang Boss
Ginny Martino
Other
Sato Masuzawa
Assistant (To Sean Penn)
Andrew Matthews
Financial Advisor
Bill Matzner
Other
Sara Mayer
Production Assistant
Film Details
Also Known As
Sam je suis Sam
MPAA Rating
Genre
Drama
Release Date
2001
Production Company
Aon/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services; Avery Pix; Bedford Falls Company; Cast & Crew Entertainment Services; Cbs Studios; Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment, Inc.; Columbia Pictures; Deluxe Entertainment Services Group; Fotokem Film & Video; Hollywood Animals; International Film Guarantors; J.L. Fisher, Inc.; Media Ventures; New Line Cinema; New Line Cinema; Pacific Title & Art Studio; Panavision, Ltd.; Paramount Pictures Scoring Stage M; Paskal Lighting; Playback Technologies, Inc.; Sony Music; Sony Music Studios, London; Soundelux; Todd-Ao; Yu+Co
Distribution Company
NEW LINE CINEMA (NEW LINE); 20th Century Fox International; Contender Entertainment; Distribution Company; Fs Film Oy; Kinepolis Film Distribution; Metropolitan Filmexport; Myndform; New Line Cinema; Nexo Digital; RCV Distribution; SF Studios; Shochiku Company, Ltd.; Tripictures; Videocine; Village Roadshow Limited; Warner Bros. Pictures International
Location
Los Angeles, California, USA
Technical Specs
Duration
2h 12m
Award Nominations
Best Actor
2001
Sean Penn
Quotes
Trivia
Miscellaneous Notes
Nominated for two 2001 Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards, including Best Actor (Sean Penn) and Best Supporting Actress (Dakota Fanning).
Winner of the 2001 award for Best Young Actor/Actress (Dakota Fanning) from the Broadcast Film Critics Association.
Winner of the 2001 Golden Satellite Award for Outstanding New Talent (Dakota Fanning) from the International Press Academy.
Released in United States Winter December 28, 2001
Released in United States February 2001
Shown at American Film Market (AFM) in Santa Monica, California February 21-28, 2001.
Completed shooting April 5, 2001.
Began shooting January 22, 2001.
Expanded released in USA January 25, 2002.
Released in United States Winter December 28, 2001
Released in United States February 2001 (Shown at American Film Market (AFM) in Santa Monica, California February 21-28, 2001.)
