While I Was Gone (2004) (TV)

User Rating:

5.2/10   

Director:

Mike Robe

Writers (WGA):

Alan Sharp (teleplay)
Sue Miller (novel)

Release Date:

10 October 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A veterinarian, unhappy in her life and in her marriage to a minister, treats a dog whose condition is so bad it may have to be euthanized...

Plot Keywords:

Based On Novel

Cast

Kirstie Alley	...	Jo Beckett
Bill Smitrovich	...	Reverend Daniel Beckett
Janaya Stephens	...	Cass Beckett
Peter Horton	...	Eli Mayhew
Deborah Odell	...	Sylvia Mayhew
Sandra Caldwell	...	Betty
Rebecca Benson	...	Young Jo Beckett
Jeff Topping	...	Young Eli Mayhew
Kim Poirier	...	Dana Jablonski
Ryan Kennedy	...	Duncan
Adam Smoluk	...	Larry
Tyler Hynes	...	Malky McDowell
River Ferreira	...	Jesus Martinez
Kevin Williams	...	Byron Hall
Shauna MacDonald	...	Detective Geary

Runtime:

USA:120 min (including commercials)

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:PG | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Company:

Government of Manitoba, The

Quotes:

Young Jo Beckett: You slept with them all?
Dana Jablonski: Yep. It was nothing heavy, I mean we're all still friends. Do you think that makes me a slut?
Young Jo Beckett: No! I mean if it's all cool then that's great!
Dana Jablonski: Yeah, you know I kinda just look at it like dancing. You have different partners for difference dances. Some like to waltz and some like to do the tango and some like to foxtrot.
[she laughs]
Young Jo Beckett: Let me guess, Duncan tango's?
Dana Jablonski: Yeah and the dance of narcissism.
Young Jo Beckett: And Larry, he does rock'n'roll?
Dana Jablonski: Yeah, that's just like 'cut to the chase, let's get it on!'
[they laugh]
[...]

Not a bad TV movie

As far as TV movies go, this is not a bad watch. It is very well made and the acting is very strong. Kirstie Alley has an excellent performance and so do the supporting actors. The movie is not perfect and is a bit unsatisfying in the end, but the movie has some nice themes and is worth a look if there is nothing great on at that time. I give the movie a 6.5. This is a 6.5 TV rating. At first watch, the movie seems like it might be a supernatural movie of some sort, but it is not. The characters seem quite real and you do start to care about them. The movie carries a very melancholic vibe throughout it, and there is a definite feeling of loss. This is not in a bad way, but I did hope there was more of a resolution in the plots main themes.