Gaby: A True Story is a 1987 biographical drama film directed by Luis Mandoki. An international co-production of Mexico and the United States, it stars Rachel Chagall (who, at the time, was billed under her real name, Rachel Levin), Norma Aleandro, Liv Ullmann, and Robert Loggia. Written by Michael Love and Martín Salinas, the film chronicles the lives of Gabriela Brimmer, a Mexican writer and disability rights activist, and her caretaker, Florencia Sánchez Morales.
Contents
Synopsis
The story chronicles the life of Gaby Brimmer, the child of Austrian Jewish refugees living in Mexico, who is born with cerebral palsy. Though most of her body is completely paralyzed, her mind and left foot are unaffected, so that she becomes a college graduate and an acclaimed author.
Cast
Rachel Chagall as Gabriela Brimmer (billed as Rachel Levin)
Norma Aleandro as Florencia Sánchez Morales
Liv Ullmann as Sari Brimmer, Gaby's mother
Robert Loggia as Michel Brimmer, Gaby's father
Susana Alexander as Dr. Betty Modley, Sari's sister and Gaby's aunt
Lawrence Monoson as Fernando
Robert Beltran as Luis
Beatriz Sheridan as Fernando's mother
Tony Goldwyn as David
Release
The film was released in the United States on October 30, 1987. In the Philippines, the film was released on June 2, 1988.
Critical response
Janet Maslin of The New York Times said the film was blunt and unsentimental, and praised Aleandro very highly.