MovieChat Forums > When You Remember Me (1990) Discussion > Based on my cousin

Based on my cousin

posted 19 years ago by ftcboi
5 replies | jump to latest

This movie is based on the life of my cousin. His name was Michael Patrick Smith (Mills) but known in my family as Mickey. He had two sisters Kelly and Penny and one brother John. Penny who I see on a regular basis was great with him and was very close to him. The movie has never been released on VHS or DVD except to our family and only to a couple of our family members. We all can get copies of it though from the members of family that do have it. If anyone has any questions as too his life please feel free to contact me at [email protected] and I will try my hardest to get your questions answered. Thanks!!!

[–] kimberlycshields 18 years ago

Why is there nothing on the internet about Mike Mills? I remember watching this film on tv when I was ten or eleven, and it really touched me. It seems sad that a website has not been established to honor his memory...

[–] prettyeyes8503 18 years ago

Do you know if there was a ever a book written on his life? I enjoy reading rather than watching a movie because the book would have a lot of more detail. Thanks

[–] jbartelone 17 years ago

What are some of the major differences between the movie and Mike's real-life story? I do know that the facility "Hisperia House" in the movie was dramatized and that Mike had spent SEVERAL years in and out of nursing homes. Please correct me if I am wrong, but the "Hisparia House" facility was a compilation of events, right?

What about Nurse Cooder? Was this based on an actual person, or a combination of staffers who were abusive toward him and the patients at the facilities?

Regards,

Joe

PS. This is a very touching film!

[–] lsruddock 17 years ago

Wade was my uncle. I don't suppose you would know a way for me to get a copy. When it aired, we recorded it on VHS. However, over the years the tape has become extremely worn and will not last.
Wade was a graduate of Muskingum College. He actually attended school with my father. He later married my mother's sister. He was a Presbyterian minister in Ohio until, he and my aunt moved to Denver, where he set out to change the world and did.
I still vividly recall when he took me to visit the Atlantis Community. He and my aunt later divorced, but my cousin and I continued to spend time with him when we spent summers in Denver.

[–] sandyhugh 12 years ago

Larry Ruiz, who was one of the people that was with Michael in the last nursing home, left with Michael to finally live and the last survivor passed away today. Now they are all together in heaven and we can all remember them being free, dancing, singing and playing music with Jerry Garcia.