Losing Isaiah

Losing Isaiah is currently streaming in the US on Kanopy and Hoopla, and it rewards the patience it asks of you. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. 106 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Jessica Lange's performance alone is worth the time investment. Start it on Kanopy whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Losing Isaiah is worth clearing space for. Losing Isaiah takes its time building the world its characters inhabit, and the patience pays off. Khaila Richards, a crack-addicted single mother, accidentally leaves her baby in a dumpster while high and returns the next day in a panic to find he is missing. In reality, the baby has been adopted by a warm-hearted social worker, Margaret Lewin, and her husband, Charles. Years later, Khaila has gone through rehab and holds a steady job. Jessica Lange and Halle Berry lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It hit screens in 1995. The writing trusts the audience to sit with ambiguity rather than wrapping everything up in a tidy conclusion — it is the approach that separates good drama from great. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Drama fans who appreciate slow-burn storytelling will feel right at home with Losing Isaiah. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Jessica Lange is the centre of it, and it is one of their strongest performances on record. The patience it asks of you early on is paid back with interest.

Losing Isaiah was released in 1995, directed by Stephen Gyllenhaal. The full 106-minute film is available to watch now. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.