The story of Taken Away
Taken Away tells the story of a 17-year-old girl whose life spirals into legal and emotional chaos after she's forced to give up her newborn baby for adoption. The film isn't about what happens after—it's about what comes next, when she decides she wants her child back. What starts as a private family matter becomes a public custody battle, especially complicated by the fact that her father is a U.S. senator with his own reputation to protect. The setup is inherently dramatic, and the film leans into the tension between parental authority, teenage autonomy, and the messy reality of adoption law.
Behind the making of Taken Away
Director Michael Feifer helmed this 88-minute drama in 2014, bringing together a cast that includes Chelsea Ricketts in the lead role, alongside Jake Thomas, Julie Warner, Michael Nouri, and Lisa Sheridan. Feifer, who's worked across television and indie film, has built a career on character-driven stories that don't shy away from family conflict—and Taken Away fits squarely into that wheelhouse. The film's modest production reflects its focus on intimate, dialogue-heavy scenes rather than spectacle. What's worth noting is that this isn't the first film called Taken Away; a 1989 made-for-TV movie starring Valerie Bertinelli explored similar adoption-related themes, though Feifer's 2014 version takes a distinctly different narrative path. The cast brings solid television pedigree—Warner's known for her work in ensemble dramas, and Nouri has spent decades playing authority figures and complex fathers, which makes his role here feel grounded and believable.
What makes Taken Away stand out
Honestly, what's striking about Taken Away is how it refuses to let anyone off the hook—not the daughter, not the parents, not the legal system itself. Ricketts carries the film with a performance that captures the frustration of being 17 and believing you know what you want, even when the adults around you are convinced you don't. The film doesn't paint her as a villain or a victim; she's both, depending on the scene. That nuance matters. Michael Nouri, playing the senator father, does something equally difficult—he makes you understand his instinct to protect his family's image while simultaneously making you angry at him for it. The tension between personal desire and public consequence, between parental protection and teenage rebellion, runs through every scene, and the script doesn't resolve it neatly. There's no third-act epiphany that fixes everything. Instead, there's the messy reality of people who love each other but can't quite see eye to eye, even when they're trying. The film earned a 4.8/10 rating on IMDb from 231 voters, which suggests it's divisive—some viewers connect with its emotional rawness, while others find its pacing or melodrama off-putting. That kind of split reaction often means a film's doing something worth discussing, even if it's not universally beloved.
Where to stream Taken Away online
If you're looking to watch Taken Away, you can find it on Prime Video. The film's available through Amazon's streaming platform, making it accessible if you've already got a subscription. Movie OTT tracks current streaming availability across all major platforms, so if you're hunting for where a specific title lives right now, that's the place to check—availability shifts constantly, and what's on one service today might move tomorrow. The "Where to Watch" widget at the top of this page shows you exactly which platforms are currently carrying Taken Away, so you can jump straight to it without hunting around.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Who directed Taken Away?
Michael Feifer directed this 2014 drama. Feifer has built a career making character-focused independent films and television movies that center on family conflict and emotional stakes.
Q: Is Taken Away based on a true story?
The film isn't based on a specific documented case, though its premise—a teenager fighting to reclaim custody of a child given up for adoption—reflects real legal and emotional situations that families face.
Q: Where can I watch Taken Away?
You can stream Taken Away on Prime Video. Check the "Where to Watch" widget on this page for current platform availability in your region.
Q: What's the runtime of Taken Away?
The film runs 88 minutes, making it a relatively compact drama that moves through its custody battle without excessive padding.
Q: Who stars in Taken Away?
Chelsea Ricketts leads the cast as the teenage protagonist, supported by Jake Thomas, Julie Warner, Michael Nouri, Lisa Sheridan, Caia Coley, and Elizabeth Ann Bennett.
Final thoughts on Taken Away
Taken Away won't be for everyone—it's a small, emotionally intense family drama that doesn't resolve its conflicts with a bow. But if you're drawn to stories about teenagers fighting to be heard and parents struggling to let go, or if you're interested in how adoption and custody intersect with privilege and power, it's worth your 88 minutes. The performances are genuine, the stakes feel real, and there's no laugh track or manufactured sentimentality to soften the blow. That's its strength and, for some viewers, its limitation. Give it a shot if the premise speaks to you.
