Nell
1994 · Movie · PG-13 · 112 min · ★ 6.5 · 59% critics
A small-town doctor investigates a remote cabin and meets a young woman who has lived apart from society and speaks in her own way. As outsiders and authorities close in, he tries to understand her world and protect her right to choose her future.
Based on Idioglossia
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Details
- Years
- 1994
- Release date
- 1994-12-23
- Language
- English
- Rated
- PG-13
- Runtime
- 112 min
- Critic score
- 59/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.5/10 (548 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a quiet, emotional drama about empathy, communication, and who gets to decide what “normal” means; Not for you if you need fast pacing or dislike courtroom-style conflict like in Flightplan.
Pros: moving, heartfelt drama; strong lead performance; thoughtful themes | Cons: slow for some; uneven late stretch; some nudity
Themes
- lake
- loss of loved one
- twin sister
- autism
- kaspar-hauser-syndrom
- feral child
- forest
- north carolina
- psychologist
- family
Awards & recognition
- Academy Award — Best Actress · 1995 · nominated
Cast & crew
Jodie Foster
as Nell Kellty
Liam Neeson
as Dr. Lovell
Natasha Richardson
as Dr. Paula Olsen
Richard Libertini
as Dr. Paley
Robin Mullins
as Mary Peterson
Nick Searcy
as Sheriff Todd Peterson
Jeremy Davies
as Billy Fisher
O'Neal Compton
as Don Fontana, Lovell's Attorney
Joe Inscoe
as Judge
Stephanie Dawn Wood
as Ruthie Lovell
Directed by Michael Apted