I Am Sam

I Am Sam is a 2001 film about a man suffering from mental retardation and his struggle to gain custody of his mentally normal daughter with the help of his friends, neighbor and cold-hearted lawyer.
 * Written and directed by Kristine Johnson and Jessie Nelson.


 * All you need is love.

Rita Harrison Williams

 * Sam, I can go another nine rounds but you've got to let me in.


 * Somehow, I'll never be enough.


 * Objection! Motion to strike that from the record. It's clear that one's intellectual capacity has no bearing on their ability to love.

Lucy Diamond Dawson

 * All you need is love.

Dialogue

 * Social Worker: Lucy, your father is 1 hour and 45 minutes late. You only have a few minutes left.
 * Lucy: You can leave if you want to.


 * Rita: Now, Ms. Cossell, in all the time that you've known them, have you ever questioned Sam's ability as a father?
 * Annie: Never.
 * Rita: Never?
 * Annie: Never. Look at Lucy. She's strong. She displays true empathy for people, all kinds of people. I know that you all think she's as smart as she is despite him, but it's because of him.
 * Rita: So what you're saying is you don't worry about Lucy's future?
 * Annie: No, I do.
 * Rita: Ah...
 * Annie: I worry all the time. I worry if they take Lucy away from her father they will take away an enormous piece of her, and I worry that she will spend the rest of her life trying to fill that hole.


 * Sam: I need to get Lucy back. We need, we need - to be professional!
 * Rita: Do you know what that means?
 * Sam: When dealing with Starbucks' customers, 'be friendly but not familiar'. I can be your friend.


 * Lucy: Daddy, did God make you to be like this or was it an accident?
 * Sam: Okay, what do you mean?
 * Lucy: I mean you're different.
 * Sam: But what do you mean?
 * Lucy: You're not like other daddies.
 * Sam: I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Yeah, I'm sorry.
 * Lucy: It's okay daddy. It's okay. Don't be sorry. I'm lucky. Nobody else's daddy ever comes to the park.
 * Sam: Yeah! yeah! yeah! We are lucky. Aren't we lucky?


 * Lucy: I won't read the word!
 * Sam: I'm your father and I'm telling you to read the word 'cause I can tell you to because I'm your father.
 * Lucy: I'm stupid.
 * Sam: You are not stupid!
 * Lucy: Yes, I am.
 * Sam: No, you are not stupid 'cause you can read that word.
 * Lucy: I don't wanna read it if you can't.
 * Sam: No, because it makes me happy! It makes me happy hearing you read. Yeah, it makes me happy when you're reading.
 * Lucy: [Lucy reads again]


 * Lucy: (while being observed) I want no other daddy but you. (turns to glass; shouts) Did you hear that? I said I didn't want any other daddy but him. Why don't you write that down?

Cast

 * Sean Penn — Sam Dawson
 * Michelle Pfeiffer — Rita Harrison Williams
 * Dakota Fanning — Lucy Diamond Dawson
 * Dianne West — Annie Cassell
 * Loretta Devine — Margaret Calgrove
 * Richard Schiff — Mr. Turner