Mother and Child
A film by Rodrigo García
Starring Naomi Watts, Annette Bening, Samuel L. Jackson
Three women’s lives share a common core: they have all been profoundly affected by adoption. KAREN (Annette Bening) had a baby at 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; she’s a bright and ambitious lawyer, but a flinty loner in her personal life. LUCY (Kerry Washington) is just embarking with her husband on the adoption odyssey, looking for a baby to become their own.
Mother and Child plays out beautifully, a familial song that grows and intertwines with each passing moment, and there are only a few bumps in the road to jolt the journey. At times, jumps in the story seem jarring, and could be handled more smoothly. The formation of Karen and Paco’s relationship is rushed in comparison to the slowly unfolding worlds of the three main characters, and the second of three jumps forward in time seems rushed and disjointed — thrown in rather than properly introduced or joined. But those are minor flaws of a greater, entertaining whole.
Critical Reaction
A beautifully acted ensemble. Naomi Watts and Annette Bening are fantastic.
—Mary Pols, Time MagazineA Powerhouse! Dynamite performances from Annette Bening and Naomi Watts ignite this strong drama.
—Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
External Links
- Official site
- View the trailer
- 3.5 Stars, Roger Ebert
- Chicago Tribune review
- Chicago Reader review
- Newcity review
Photos
Technical Information
- Production Year
- 2009
- Language
- - with English subtitles
- Running Time
- 126 min
Showtimes
Showtimes for this film to be announced soon.
See showtimes for all currently scheduled films.