Marvin's Room

Lee Wakefield Lacker, a woman battling leukemia, reaches out to her estranged sister after years of bitterness. She believes a bone marrow transplant from Bessie could be her best hope, but the two women have spent two decades locked in a feud that never quite healed. The request forces their fractured family back into the Wakefield household, where old grievances, unspoken regrets, and practical care collide under one roof. Lee moves between hope and fear as doctors weigh options, while Bessie must weigh loyalty against pride. Their father, Marvin, and the surrounding relatives add pressure, humor, and constraints, turning every exchange into a test of trust. The drama unfolds through intimate conversations and tense confrontations that never feel melodramatic.

Directed by Jerry Zaks, Marvin's Room is an adaptation of Scott McPherson's stage play. Released in 1996 by TriStar, the film features Meryl Streep, Diane Keaton, Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, and Hume Cronyn; budget was about 23 million.

While not a landmark, Marvin's Room is remembered for its strong ensemble and for translating a stage sensibility to screen bound domestic spaces. DiCaprio's early work opposite Streep and Keaton drew attention and signaled the rise of a new generation of actors, while the film reflects 1990s cinema's interest in intimate family dramas.

Critics highlighted the performances and the screenplay's tight focus on memory and reconciliation within a crowded family setting. The movie blends warmth with tension as it probes the cost of long running feuds, the burdens of caretaking, and the fragile possibility that honesty and care can heal a fractured clan.

Awards: The film did not win major awards, though it drew moderate attention from critics and earned recognition from several smaller awards bodies for acting and screenplay.