Mother And Child [2010]

“Mother And Child” is a well written and well directed drama about the lives of three women that share a common core: they’ve all been affected by adoption. Karen (Annette Bening in a solid performance) had a baby when she was only 14, gave her up at birth, and has been haunted ever since by the daughter she never knew. Elizabeth (Naomi Watts) grew up as an adopted child who never knew her real parents; she’s an ambitious and successful lawyer, but also very lonely in her personal life (she doesn’t believe in marriage and babies). Lucy (Kerry Washington) is an African American woman looking to adopt a child of her own. The movie cleverly examines the mother/child relationship by telling 5 stories that are intimately connected, but we don’t know until the end how these connections will eventually play out. Every aspect of the film is wonderfully conceived and executed; the cast couldn’t be better, and they all look commited and credible. Director Rodrigo Garcia does a fine job in developing his characters, especially Bening’s character. She evolves so much during the film, and I loved that about it. At first she’s rude to almost everyone, but her own mother, on the outside. On the inside, she’s hurt and damaged from the effect of losing her daughter. Bening displays everything in perfection (just like she did in last year’s oscar nominated film “The Kids Are All Right”).

I’m afraid this movie will probably get lost in the shuffle; afterall, it took me quite a while to finally discover it, and I’m sure that most of you haven’t had the chance to come across it yet. But I do hope that, and after you’ve read my take on it, you decide to give it a try; it’s one of the most moving films I’ve seen in a very long time, and eventhough it goes on a bit too long, the results still have an authentic feel, as does the superb acting. Do not miss it.

Rating: 3/4