Brody saying that the parallels between her storyline and Stephanie's felt "overly coincidental" and have a "superficial obviousness", Joe Morgenstern of The Wall Street Journal said the film successfully "brings together two women, trapped in separate states of denial and distress, who manage to end each other's entrapment." Turan argued "Lydie and her story become an increasingly effective counterweight to Stephanie's tale as both women, in spheres different and alike, must come to terms with actions taken in the past. Neither woman's experience, finally, would be as effective on screen without the other's, but together they come fully alive." In a review that awarded the film 3 and 1/2 stars out of 4, Ebert wrote, "We read about cases like this and think the mothers are monsters. If their babies are alive and found in a trash bin, certainly they exist outside decency and morality, or their values are corrupted. But what led them to that decision? What did they know? What were they taught? What did they fear? I feel it is the responsibility of parents to raise children who know they can tell their parents anything, and go to them for help. If a girl cannot tell her parents she is pregnant, something bad is likely to happen." He noted the audience members at the screening he attended were unhappy with the ending, but he applauded Brougher for "the courage and integrity to refuse an easy conclusion," reasoning "What would a satisfactory ending be? Guilty? Innocent? Forensic revelations? We have been tutored by Hollywood to expect all the threads to be tied neatly at the end. But real life is more like this movie: Frightened and confused people are confronted with a situation they cannot understand, and those who would help them are powerless." Awards and nominations Home media Stephanie Daley was released on DVD by Liberation Entertainment on September 4, 2007. References Bibliography Further reading External links Official site 2006 films 2006 drama films American independent films 2006 independent films American drama films Films scored by David Mansfield Sundance Film Festival award winners Films about child death Teenage pregnancy in film American pregnancy films Films about Christianity Films set in New York (state) Films shot in New York (state) 2000s English-language films 2000s American films