"Jenifer"
2001
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Directed by:
Jace Alexander 
 
Writing Credits:
Story
Valerie Estess and
Geoffrey Nauffts

Teleplay
David Marshall Grant,
Geoffrey Nauffts and
Patricia Resnick

Plot Outline: The triumphant true story of three sisters who unite in the face of adversity when one of them is diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.

Jenifer Estess, a brilliant woman stricken with Lou Gehrig's disease, otherwise known as ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis).
'JENIFER' opens with shots of Giacomo dancing to the radio in her kitchen as she gets ready for work, making herself coffee and slamming the refrigerator door with her foot as she bolts out the door to make it on time to the theater where she works as a drama producer. These pivotal small moments make the viewer understand how precious these things will become to Jenifer once she is stricken with the disease.
We are introduced to her sisters, Valerie and Meredith, brilliantly portrayed by Jane Kaczmarek and Annabella Sciorra, who show the true bond of 'sisterhood' as they stick with her through the good and the bad times to help her deal with her ailing condition. A few small incidents lead Jenifer to realize that there is something wrong with her. She drops a few things, loses her balance, finds herself commonly out of breath and the lack of energy or strength to use her motor skills. Jenifer was only 35 when she was diagnosed with the disease and Laura San Giacomo brilliantly portrays her life from herein.
Many cameos throughout the tele-movie are portrayed by different television personalities. Marisa Tomei plays one of the actresses in the production Jenifer is involved with at the theater. Scott Wolf plays a would-be blind date who is turned off by Jenifer's condition. Julianna Margulies is the psychiatrist-cum-MD Jenifer visits to try and pinpoint the condition that she has. Camryn Manheim is Jenifer's hard, unsympathetic nurse. Rob Morrow is the Doctor who eventually joins the ALS Foundation to help research stem cell growth.
As Jenifer's disease eventually constricts her body from total movement, the film becomes a fight for her life as the focus turns directly to the research of stem cell growth on mice and the hopes that one day, humans may receive the same treatment.

Credited cast:
Laura San Giacomo .... Jenifer Estess
Jane Kaczmarek .... Valerie
Annabella Sciorra .... Meredith
Alex Gaistman .... Jane Estess
Mallory Margel .... Young Meredith
rest of cast listed alphabetically
Daniel Magder .... Jake
Julianna Margulies .... Jenifer's Pyschiatrist
Rob Morrow
Fisher Stevens
Marisa Tomei .... Actress in play
Bradley White .... Michael

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Video Clips
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Jenifer Clip 1

"Whatever you do... do not forget your rubberband."

Jenifer Clip 2

"What about the shoes..."

Jenifer Clip 2

"It's a very gun to your head kind of thing."

Jenifer Clip 2

"We were young... and we were all gonna live forever."

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Photos

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