Sam (2001)

I Am Sam (2001) is a drama directed by Jessie Nelson, starring Sean Penn, Dakota Fanning, and Michelle Pfeiffer.

The film centers on Sam Dawson, a gentle man living in Los Angeles with his young daughter Lucy. Though Sam's mind functions at the level of a child, his heart is defined by a fierce, uncomplicated devotion to her — and their simple shared routines form the foundation of their world.

Sam fathered Lucy with a homeless woman who disappeared shortly after giving birth, leaving him to raise Lucy on his own as best he can. When the state begins to question whether he is capable of providing for a growing child, Sam enlists the help of a lawyer named Rita Harrison to fight for his daughter — a case she initially wants nothing to do with but eventually takes on pro bono.