By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3 cats
Director: John Sayles
Starring: Daryl Hannah | Maggie Gyllenhaal | Marcia Gay Harden | Mary Steenburgen | Rota Moreno | Susan Lynch | Vanessa Martinez
Country: mexico, united_states
Year: 2003
Running time: 95
IMDB: http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0303830/combined
Michael says: “Maverick independent filmmaker John Sayles takes a look at the different paths open to children in modern-day Mexico in CASA DE LOS BABYS, a film that offers no answers, but highlights some terrific acting. The film is centered around a groups of six American women, wading through the bureaucratic adoption process. These mostly privileged white women are forced to spend weeks, sometimes even months, at the ‘Casa de los Babys,’ while their adoption requests are painstakingly examined (or possibly languishing at the bottom of a pile of paperwork). It is the dialogue and interactions of these women that is truly the joy of Sayles’ film. Ever the master of dialogue, each woman quickly finds their unique voice, whether it is the pinched, shrewish Mam (played annoyingly well by Marcia Gay Harden), or the new age health obsessed Skipper (a revelatory performance by Daryl Hannah.) The orphanage is filled with babies waiting to be adopted, but for some reason, and Sayles offers several possibilities, the process is a lengthy and frustrating one.
“If adoption is one possible path for a Mexican child, so is poverty and life on the streets. One of Sayles storylines follows a trio of young boys as they try to get by washing car windows and getting high on spray paint. Children who stay with their parents don’t seem to fare much better, as the adult child of Sra. Muñoz (proprietress of the Casa de los Babys – and nicely played by Rita Moreno) shows. He drawn to the ideal of revolution… or is it terrorism? and has difficulty finding his path in life. Most poignant is the story of Asunción, a maid at the Casa. Sweetly played by Vanessa Martinez (LIMBO, LONE STAR) her sad story is revealed in a wonderful scene with Eileen, and Irish hopeful-mother living in Boston, played with deft befuddleness by Susan Lynch. The two women bare their souls to one another, one speaking in English, the other in Spanish, and neither truly understanding the other.
“Other notable performances come from Mary Steenburgen who just seems to get better with age, and the radiant Maggie Gyllenhaal, further proving her acting chops with each role.
“CASA DE LOS BABYS is not one of Sayles’ great film, but it sure was good.” 3 cats