User reviews

This film was made by Bob Saget about his sister's battle with scleroderma. To not only document what she and their family went through, but to put a face to the disease for us to better understand it. And on that it succeeds at every level.

It starts off slowly, introducing Hope's family, including her brother, a sitcom writer in California. Then we meet Hope, a single mother and teacher in her late thirties. Once the disease begins, she struggles to discover just what it is that's causing her pain, and only later learns what she's facing.

Her family's reactions of denial, confusion, anger, guilt, fatigue, and utter frustration are all displayed well and with feeling. Her brother's way of reacting to everything with a joke is annoying at first, and then you realize that this is his way of dealing with the crisis. The way he's always coped with life. It's given him a television career and a great home, and yet it can't help him in the face of his sister's illness. (Still, having said that, throughout the movie are jokes of poor taste, and the film would benefit if the first and last scenes, at the restaurant, were cut.)

But the star of the film is Delany, in a powerful performance. She goes to the core of the rage and grief over what has become of her body. It's a heart-rending journey as she tries to cling to her dignity, her family, and her life.

In short, this movie is not easy to watch, but necessary if you hope to understand what people with scleroderma are battling each day.

P.S. For an interesting side note, both Saget and Delany were involved in benefits for scleroderma even before Saget's sister became ill. And for more on Delany's involvement with the Scleroderma Foundation, see http://www.danadelany.com/extras-causes.htm

This is an average movie based upon the real life events that took the life of Bob Saget's sister, who died as a result of the rare disease scleroderma. I found the movie interesting and informative. It is a tear jerker (especially if you have experienced the death of a family member as a result of a disease). I do not recommend this movie to those who want "entertainment" (as that it not it's purpose).

This movie tells the story of a woman who is diagnosed with scleroderma---it is based on a true story.

Scleroderma is a rare disease that effects 300,000 people in the United States. There are many different forms of the disease and this story shows one of the most difficult types, systemic scleroderma.

"For Hope" tries to give an idea of how most people deal with scleroderma. Because it's rare, it's often misdiagnosed and a correct diagnosis can sometimes take a while.

It is 20 years since this movie was made. All of what is in the movie remains relevant. There still is no cure. There still is no answer on how people get it. But...there are some treatment options to delay the disease. Scleroderma is the most horrific autoimmune disease out there. This movie shows much of what the disease can do. It is well cast and well acted. It is well worth watching, but be prepared that you might shed some tears.

Just to clear something up, Bob Saget's point of this movie was not for it to be some fictional drama only to entertain it's viewers. His intention was to raise awareness of a very difficult and sad disease, called Scleroderma, that most people haven't even heard of but does effect more that several million people, that claimed the life of his sister. This movie is about her battle with that disease.

I was diagnosed with Scleroderma when I was 20 yrs old. It was a very difficult time in my life and everything changed. I have been living with this disease for 9 years, and it has claimed many of my organs. Now I can no longer have children. I hope people will watch this movie and have compassion for those who struggle with life-changing diseases and donate to it's research. Just maybe a cure could be found before long.

Like the other reviewer says, this disease is very mysterious, like progeria, very disforming, and very hard to deal with. As my brother does medical research, and my discussions with him;I have drawn conclusions of disease, and it's compilation into the physiognomy of body, AND LIFE.... Sorry to use the two-dollar word, but if you get a chance to gab with researchers into diseases of human-kind, you quickly realize how difficult unraveling the human genome is! if you talk to my brother.... he seems to think it's rapped up in the female "X" chromosome!.....\ To this specific film, I so appreciate Ms. Delaney's performance because it was not maudlin; even though much sobbing, it kept me glued to the story.... an absolute MUST for me to enjoy a film.... i'm so jaundiced by movies that go 'over the top'; it's rare that i can be pulled in to this 'kind' of film... Also Mr. Gould has never had a bad performance... wish he would do more...and, a lawyer by training! imagine that!

I wrote before about me and my husband watching the movie because my husband was diagnosed in January. Well, on the 19th of July he was finally called to rest by GOD. He had suffered for one short year from this disease but he suffered one year too long. I hope they find a cure from this disease even though it will not bring my husband nor my kids father back but it will at least save some other lives. To whom ever reads this, please do not take this subject lightly because this can to happen to you unexpectedly. My husband passed away at the sweet young age of 26. This disease is no joke.

My name is Mendi and I was diagnosed with Reynaud's Phenomenon and Scleroderma (CREST) at the early age of 15. I saw the movie "For Hope" after I was diagnosed. I was told that I would live approximately 5 years. That is a great deal for a 15 year old to swallow. Not only was I having a hard time coping with the idea, I felt that I needed to hide my fear for my families sake because the news was overwhelming for them as well and I didn't want them to worry more. When I watched "For Hope", I cried for days and yet it also gave me hope. Since I was was 15, I have dreamed of meeting Sharron. When I heard she passed away, I had just lost my finger. Once again I cried because her death was a great loss to all current and future Scleroderma patients. God Bless Bob Saget for continuing to fight for all of us who suffer with Scleroderma and for what his sister believed in!

This movie was a good idea to bring the disease of Scleroderma to light but it depicted one of the worse case scenarios of the disease.

Being a sufferer of Scleroderma and having a brother who died from the disease I was scared beyond belief at what could happen to me. In talking with other Scleroderma sufferers some of them felt the very same way I did. Scared and concerned.

I really enjoyed the movie. My husband has scleroderma and was just diagnosed with it in January. While we were watching the movie we were comparing what was going on with him at this point to what was happening to hope. We can relate very well with this movie and the details of the disease was described perfectly. This movie was very touching and goes to show that this can happen to anyone because the cause of the disease is unknown, which is very hard to grasp. But knowing that there is no cure is even more hard to swallow, because now we are at the point of no return and death is the end result.

FOR HOPE is a TV movie recounting the slow, slow death of a 40 year old woman. The film offers little other than sharing the experience of an utterly hopeless, and very long, deathwatch. The result is pretty ugly and depressing. The production is well meaning, but as a whole is lacking any entertainment value. The bottom line recommendation is don't waste your time.

I think the story lined talks about a disease and what it does not only to the patient but the family as well, and yes this is not a fun story line to watch, but a necessary one to tell the world so something might get done and cure can be found. If one person made a donation or one Dr realized how to help one of thier patients, then the story was worth telling.

I see on the movie screens. How could movie have ignored by the awards people? Absolutely fantastic performances throughout. So believable. So candid. So tragic. Congratulations to Bob Saget. Now I know what he's good at! Dana was magnificent, once again. The next time I see a film coming out that is directed by Saget, I'll give it a shot because this was Grade A. I was turned on to this film by a woman I'm dating. We watched the film and then she informed me that she has this disease. In the ten years since this film was released, some advances have been made and she's confident she will not have to go through what this woman did in the film but you can't be sure. The movie is powerful with a capital P.

This movie hit very close to home. My grandmother died of this disease and it dragged her down for 11 long years of hell. In and out of the hospital. In 1988 when she was diagnosed, no one heard of the disease. When she died, she was at peace. It was hard watching her go through this. But 11 yrs of it. She held on as long as she could. Now I am trying to research myself on line to make sure it doesn't go further in the family. I've seen this moving a number of times and each time, I need my Kleenex. My boyfriend Tom never had the pleasure of meeting my grandmother, but I am waiting for this movie to come on again so he can see it with me. Until next time, hope everyone is well Diana from Bklyn, NY

This was a very sad movie, but Scleroderma is a very sad disease. This movie shows an accurate portrayal of what Scleroderma can do to a person and while it can be scary, it can also make those who have health or even have a milder form of the disease realize how precious life is. I have had Scleroderma since I was a child and every time I watch this movie it makes me feel grateful that I am still alive as well as hope for the future and the possibility of finding a cure. I thank Bob Saget for telling his sister's story in this movie so as to inform others of this terrible disease. I also hope that this story will touch the hearts of those who see it and that information will be passed on so as to possibly help find a cure.

I have scleroderma but not the progressive type. I was excited to see this movie to see how lucky I am, how God blessed me. Unfortunately I have nothing good to say about it. The acting was beyond terrible especially the jokes. I know Bob Saget was a comedian and he was really funny. But they did not capture his comedy well at all. And his parents jokes were herendous. The movie, in my opinion, was not focused on the reason it was made. I'm happy that Bob Saget won't be able to read my review.

This movie is not for entertainment but to bring attention to a horrible disease. Those who write "spoilers" have obviously never dealt with someone who has Scleroderma. I was diagnosed 1 year ago and have been watching my hands and face start to change. Facing the fact that I have this and watching this movie really brings home what it can do to a family. My family happens to be one that is denial. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or bad. As much as I need support I don't want to see their pain. The part that hit me the hardest was when it was said that she is "trapped in a body that doesn't want her" and "where she doesn't want to be". This disease has been so devastating to me that I thought it was possible that I had bone cancer and cried when I realized that I would not do chemo because I'd rather not be here dealing with this. I don't want people to have to take care of me, stare at me and be trapped in a body that has failed me. It also made me realize that I have to fight this and not give in. Her positive attitude about finding a cure in her lifetime has changed my way of thinking. Mentally I have been living everyday thinking about the future and being depressed and stressed. I need to live for today and hope that someday there is a cure. I will now wake up every morning and thank God for another day. I am so very grateful for this movie bringing awareness to this disease. Maybe people who have compassion and big hearts with make a donation for research and a possible cure. I believe that those that write "spoilers" would have a completely different take if there life was impacted by this in some way. I pray that this will never be the case but unfortunately you never know - I never thought mine would be.

I think I saw only the ending some few years ago on HBO, but I remember being moved to tears. Literally. I hardly cry during movies, but this one was so touching that the floodgates opened. And I don't believe I saw the whole thing. So if you have a chance to see this movie, be sure to catch it. I, for one, would definitely make it a point to see the whole thing if I ever have the chance.

I just found out 4 months ago that i have sclero. My sister taped this movie for me to watch and it was very touching. I cried the first time I watched it. The second time was easier to handle. I would love to chat with Mr. saget about this disease. It is a very scary thing. Robin

I cannot believe some of the compassionless, heartless and downright cruel comments, I have just read! I honestly thought all the ratings would be above a 7. Don't ppl understand this was NOT for entertainment value, but to bring awareness to a devastating disease. I'm sorry your fragile worldview cannot handle the realities of a horrific disease and it's effect on family and friends. Grow up and start living in the real world and find some empathy instead of wallowing in your pool of narcissism. Unless you've done something to improve this world just shut your useless pieholes! Thank you Mr. Saget (rip) and family for bearing your hearts and fragile memories to bring about awareness of this debilitating disease. God bless you.

The selfish son, the idiot brother, the rude parents...not an easy family to live or die in, but then few are. I've always hated Bob Saget but have to give him credit here for showing it like it really is, warts and all. Dana Delaney is one of my all-time favorite actresses--if you've never seen "China Beach" do yourself a big favor--and the only reason I watched this. I'm glad I did...sad, but glad. What a terrible disease.

I wanted to say this movie For Hope has hit the major life change of a person who has scleroderma. How do I know this? Because my mother also died from Progressive Systemic Scleroderma in January 1998. I remember taping this movie even tho it made me Cry.

Today I wish I still had the movie, it was very real and every time I watched it I would see my own mother.

There is only one actor I thought was a bad part of the movie and that was the brother who would make jokes to make his sister laugh even tho it was about her illness.

I would really like to see this on TV again and know when it is aired as I now have my life back from it being on hold for my mothers care. I give talks about Scleroderma to my class mates and none of them have seen or heard about it.

This was a greatly made movie.

My Mother died of Scleroderma in 1999 aged 51, and before that I had never heard of this terrible disease.

I remember a few months later this movie was on TV and I caught the end of it, but I couldn't watch as it was still too painful to deal with at the time.

However I would like to see all of this film so if anyone knows where I could obtain a copy (I live in the UK) I would be very grateful.

Thanks,

Billy.