Mother and Child (2009)

Directed by: Rodrigo Garcia | 125 minutes | drama | Actors: Annette Bening, Samuel L. Jackson, Naomi Watts, Cherry Jones, Kerry Washington, Amy Brenneman, Alexandria M. Salling, Connor Kramme, Eileen Ryan, David Ramsey, Kay D’Arcy, Bradford Alex, Jimmy Smits, Elpidia Carrillo, Simone Lopez, Carla Gallo, S. Epatha Merkerson, Michael Warren, LaTanya Richardson, Shareeka Epps, David Morse, Tatyana Ali, Sean Scarborough, Ahmed Best, Brenda Ball, Veronica Welch, Dawn Marie Deibert, Gloria Garayua, Elizabeth Peña, Lawrence Pressman Brittany Robertson, Lisa Gay Hamilton, Gabrielle Abitol, Karen Graci, Eugene Collier, Evette Cord, Juliette Amara, Susan Bay

In the American drama ‘Mother and Child’ we have to deal with the aftermath of half an hour of sexual freedom. A fourteen-year-old has sex, gives birth to a daughter and never sees the child put up for adoption again. 37 years later, mother and daughter are still burdened by that event. Mother is a cranky spinster, daughter has her feelings tied off together with her ovaries forever. Two lives with no perspective, until one day something changes.

Although this plot lends itself to an unadulterated tearjerker, director Rodrigo García keeps his foot on the brakes for the first hour and a half. Despite the charged subject, there is plenty of room for humor, especially in the scenes where the awkward mother has to deal with an equally awkward admirer. Dramatic scenes abound, but the tone in those scenes is harsh and bitter rather than sentimental. García shows not so much the blessings of a normal family life as the emptiness of a detached existence. In that respect, ‘Mother and Child’ is the dramatic counterpart of the comedy ‘Up in the Air’, in which George Clooney played a detached type who slowly comes to realize that he is missing something.

The viewer’s sympathy for these bitter ladies is due to excellent acting by Annette Benning, Kerry Washington and Naomi Watts. Watts’ character is by far the most interesting. Beneath her cold looks and cool words lies a tremendous anger, a rage that manifests itself in destroying other people’s happiness. In many creative ways.

Unfortunately, García’s foot goes off the brakes after an hour and a half, and the drama ends up in sentimental waters. Humor disappears, music swells and within the span of a few scenes the main characters go through an improbable psychological growth. Bitterness turns to love, sadness to joy, and tears and hugs and more tears appear.

This oversentimental ending is a blemish, but that should not be a reason to skip this film. First and last, ‘Mother and Child’ is a compelling drama in the very best American tradition. Kleenex with you and a shoulder to cry on, and your evening can’t be ruined.