| Surviving: A Family in Crisis | |
|---|---|
1993 VHS box cover retitled Tragedy. Although Zach Galligan was Molly Ringwald's leading man in the film, by 1993 River Phoenix had eclipsed Galligan's stardom, and was given top billing (as well as a photograph obviously taken several years after the film), to promote the VHS release. |
|
| Directed by | Waris Hussein |
| Produced by | Hunt Lowry Frank Konigsberg Larry Sanitsky |
| Written by | Joyce Eliason |
| Starring | Zach Galligan Molly Ringwald Ellen Burstyn Len Cariou Marsha Mason Paul Sorvino River Phoenix Heather O'Rourke |
| Music by | James Horner |
| Cinematography | Alexander Gruszynski |
| Editing by | Leslie Dennis Bracken Kurt Bullinger John F. Burnett |
| Distributed by | ABC |
| Release date(s) | February 10, 1985 |
| Running time | 118 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Surviving: A Family in Crisis (also known simply as Surviving, and later released on VHS as Tragedy) is a 1985 ABC television movie starring Zach Galligan, Molly Ringwald, and River Phoenix. Described as a modern-day Romeo & Juliet story that examines the tragedy of teen suicide, and the loved ones left behind to pick up the pieces.
Contents |
Rick (Zach Galligan) is the apple of his father's eye; smart, handsome, and idolized by his younger siblings (River Phoenix and Heather O'Rourke). By stark contrast, Lonnie (Molly Ringwald) is a troubled and withdrawn girl, struggling to put the painful memory of a failed suicide attempt behind her. Both teenagers are dealing with loneliness and family pressures when they begin to find solace in each other, and a young romance develops. As Rick and Lonnie's bond begins to grow stronger, and they become increasingly withdrawn from their friends and families, their protective parents begin to worry that the young lovers are getting too involved and become increasingly uncomfortable with the teenagers' relationship. Finally, when Rick's parents (Ellen Burstyn and Len Cariou) decide that Lonnie is a bad influence on their son, and Lonnie's parents (Marsha Mason and Paul Sorvino) decide that boarding school would be the best place for their troubled daughter, Rick and Lonnie, desperate not to be separated, make a tragic decision to take their own lives. In the wake of the young lovers' fatal suicide pact, the two devastated families are left to try and pick up the pieces of their shattered lives and somehow find a way to go on.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Zach Galligan | Rick Brogan |
| Molly Ringwald | Lonnie |
| Ellen Burstyn | Tina Brogan |
| Len Cariou | David Brogan |
| Marsha Mason | Lois |
| Paul Sorvino | Harvey |
| River Phoenix | Philip Brogan |
| Heather O'Rourke | Sarah Brogan |
| William Windom | Dr. Madsen |
| Marc Gilpin | Bobby |
| Paddi Edwards | Alma |
| Camila Ashland | Woman #1 |
| Jane Simoneau | May |
| Joe Berryman | Sheriff |
| Lon Coggeshall | Jed |
| Midge Woolsey | Helen |
| Sandra Gilpin | Woman #2 |
| David C. Allen | Kid |
| Kim Valentine | Sherry |
| Robert Douglas Scott | Artie |
| Regina Johnson | Supervisor |
| Norma Moore | Psychologist |
| Barry Brawley | Kid |
| Year | Award | Category / Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984–1985 | Young Artist Awards | Best Family Television Special | Nominated | [1] |
| Best Young Actress in a Television Special or Mini-Series Heather O'Rourke |
Nominated | [1] | ||
| Best Young Actor in a Television Special or Mini-Series River Phoenix |
Won | [1] | ||
| 1985 | Humanitas Prize | 90-Minute Category Joyce Eliason |
Nominated | [2] |
| 1986 | Artios Award | Best Casting for TV Movie of the week Marsha Kleinman Kathleen Letterie |
Nominated | [3] |