Mother And Child (2010)

When I see “Directed by Rodrigo Garcia” on a film, I know I can relax because I’m in safe hands. I’ve only seen four of his films but I’ve loved (in varying degrees) all of them so far: THINGS YOU CAN TELL JUST BY LOOKING AT HER, NINE LIVES, PASSENGERS and now his newest and possibly his best, MOTHER AND CHILD. Garcia’s film centers on three women. Two angry, hostile white women (Annette Bening, Naomi Watts) and a neurotic black woman (Kerry Washington). Bening is a withdrawn somewhat paranoid lonely woman living with her dying mother who can’t help but think of the daughter she gave up for adoption when she was 14. The daughter (Watts) is a controlling but successful lawyer who is bitter towards the mother who gave her away. Washington, who can’t conceive, decides to adopt a child in a desperate bid to save her marriage. The film alternates back and forth in these women’s lives as they grow and learn things about themselves and how that cord between mother and child can either give you life or strangle you. It’s beautifully done and Garcia doesn’t overplay his hand. Bening (absolutely Oscar caliber work here) and Watts (her best work since MULHOLLAND DRIVE) have the difficult task of portraying unlikable women and yet still keep us fascinated enough to care what happens to them. Co-starring Samuel L. Jackson, Jimmy Smits, Amy Brenneman, Cherry Jones, Elizabeth Pena, Elpidia Carrillo and S. Epatha Merkerson. Highly recommended.