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Malibu, California - Present day. A smart, precocious
and beautiful teenager named Katie (Mika Boorem, Dirty Dancing:
Havana Nights) celebrates her birthday
with her family and friends. Halfway around world in rural China,
another teenage girl, Lin (Yi Ding, Joy Luck Club), celebrates her birthday on the
exact same day, but her reality exists in stark contrast to Katie's.
Rescued as an infant, Lin has a severe facial deformity that prevents
her from the freedom of ever showing her face. Her best hope for a
“normal” life is the “Doctor’s Gift” program (based on
Operation Smile).
Katie
is searching for a deeper meaning to her life and is inspired to look
outside her own world for something new and challenging. When her
teacher Mr. Matthews (Sean Astin) introduces Katie to “Doctor's Gift”, it strikes an
emotional chord for her. Although Katie has never done something like
this before, she recognizes the opportunity, puts her own problems aside
and volunteers to go on the next “Doctor's Gift” trip to China.
Once
there, she is deeply touched by the charity’s work and her
roommate/surgical nurse (Cheri Oteri, SNL.) Katie takes off on her own into
the heart of China to find Lin. A “smile” is brought to Lin’s face,
Katie finds her soul, and their extraordinary connection becomes a
life-changing experience for both teenage girls.
Filmed on location in California and China.
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