Give Me Back My Daughter (2025 Lifetime)
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Cast: Gabourey Sidibe
Director: Kelley Kali
Writer(s): Xavier Burgin
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DonateDonate monthlyDonate yearlySynopsis (via Lifetime)
Give Me Back My Daughter tells the story of Renee (Gabourey Sidibe) and her daughter, Imani (Cadence Reese), who are left homeless after Renee loses her job and they are evicted from their home. Determined to stay independent, Renee refuses any public assistance, but her desperation leads to a difficult decision: leaving her daughter, in the car during a job interview, which results in her arrest and Imani being taken by Child Protective Services. As Renee navigates family court, she discovers the support of those around her and comes to understand that she can’t do it all on her own. With the help of new friends, she starts to see a glimmer of hope in her situation and remains steadfast in her determination to do whatever it takes to be reunited with her daughter.
Recap/Wine Thoughts
Oscar Nominee Gabourey Sidibe stars as a widowed mother, Renne, who is up for a job promotion. Her daughter Imani helps her prepare for the pitch, but things don’t go according to plan. Gabourey Sidibe is laid off unexpectedly.
Gabourey Sidibe searches for a job and everyone is rude as hell to her. She struggles to do job interviews and take care of her daughter. After 90 days of searching, Gabourey Sidibe is still without a job, and they have been evicted from their apartment. She has to resort to government assistance.
Just because things are falling apart doesn’t mean Gabourey Sidibe does a facemask after packing up her apartment and moving into her car. The police tell her she can’t stay in her car, so Gabourey Sidibe tries to go to a women’s shelter. Despite being homeless, Gabourey Sidibe tries to make things normal for her daughter; ultimately, she is a good mother.
Gabourey Sidibe has been homeless for 180 days and can’t get government assistance because they don’t have an address. Gabourey Sidibe gets a job interview and tries to drop Imani off with a friend, but that friend flakes and Gabourey Sidibe leaves Imani in the car while she nails her interview.
While on cloud nine, Gabourey Sidibe’s world comes crashing down when someone reports Gabourey Sidibe for child neglect, leaving Imani in the car for an hour. They arrest Gabourey Sidibe and take Imani into child protective services. Gabourey Sidibe avoids jail time but has to take parenting classes and will be on probation for two years.
Gabourey Sidibe has supervised visits with Imani, who seems to be doing fine in foster care, except for her hair and the trauma of being away from her mother. Gabourey Sidibe will have to do whatever it takes to get her daughter back. She works at a diner and goes to a parenting support group where she makes friends with a woman in a similar situation.
Imani and Gabourey Sidibe talk on the phone, and Imani says that she likes foster care better than living with her mother. Eventually, Imani stops taking her mother’s calls altogether. Imani is cool to her mother at supervised visits and prefers her foster parents.
Gabourey Sidibe asks her boss for more responsibility at work, and they seem to have some romantic feelings buried deep down. The boss hooks Gabourey Sidibe with a place to stay. She applies for the apartment despite not making three times the rent.
Gabourey Sidibe has a real passion for hair and takes another job as a hairstylist. Things are looking up, and Gabourey Sidibe shares her progress in the group. She even opens up about being widowed and how hard it was. (Going for that Emmy here!)
Someone breaks into Gabourey Sidibe’s car as things look up and steal the battery. It is a setback, but Gabourey Sidibe won’t let it hold her back. Gabourey Sidibe gets her beautician license and makes up with Imani, who is still confused by the whole foster situation.
It is time for the child custody case, and Gabourey Sidibe gives a speech about growing up in the system and feeling abandoned. She realizes now that asking for support has helped her succeed and put her in a place to fight for her daughter. Gabourey Sidibe gets her daughter back! The End!
STRAY Thoughts
Gabourey Sidibe should do Christmas movies.
This movie was meandering and in need of a proper villain, besides the system. OR a passionate romance, the boss was more of a sizzle.
Overall rating
Number of Kills: N/A (0 knives)
Lifetime Tropes: Homelessness, Custody dispute, mother/daughter
Enjoyment Level (1-5 scale)
🍷🍷🍷 (3 Glasses of Wine)
Should you watch it?
Pour it Up (Give it a shot!)
Put a Cork in it! Skip it!)
What did you think of the movie? et me know in the comments or on social media at @LifetimeUncorked and @patrickmiguel.
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*Photo Credit: © 2025 A&E Television Networks, LLC
Whatttt? I LOVED this one, haha!
Why is the actress’ full name used for every reference to her character 😭
Why is the actress full name used every reference to her character 😭