- Mother and Child (film)
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Mother and Child 
Australian theatrical posterDirected by Rodrigo García Produced by Lisa Maria Falcone
Julie LynnWritten by Rodrigo García Starring Naomi Watts
Annette Bening
Kerry Washington
Jimmy Smits
Samuel L. Jackson
David MorseMusic by Ed Shearmur Cinematography Xavier Pérez Grobet Editing by Steven Weisberg Studio Everest Entertainment
Mockingbird PicturesDistributed by Sony Pictures Classics Release date(s) September 14, 2009 (TIFF)
May 7, 2010Running time 125 minutes Country United States Language English Budget $7 million Box office $4,980,736 Mother and Child is an American drama film directed and written by Rodrigo García, and stars Naomi Watts, Annette Bening, Kerry Washington, Shareeka Epps and Samuel L. Jackson. It premiered on September 14, 2009 at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival[1] and at the Sundance Film Festival on January 23, 2010.[2] It was given a limited release in the United States beginning May 7, 2010.[3]
Contents
Plot
When she was 14, Karen (Annette Bening) became pregnant and gave her daughter up for adoption. The decision to give up her child has always haunted her. Upon meeting laid-back Paco (Jimmy Smits), Karen permits her anxiety and mistrust to get the best of her.
Karen's daughter, Elizabeth (Naomi Watts), grows up to be solitary, willful, and hardhearted. She is hired as an attorney at a prestigious law firm headed by Paul (Samuel L. Jackson). They have an affair, and she becomes pregnant. She quits without informing Paul of her condition, and moves to a new apartment and a new job. She deposits a letter for her biological mother in the organization that arranged the adoption.
Lucy (Kerry Washington) is a baker who longs to be a mother, but cannot have children of her own. She and her husband, Joseph (David Ramsey), contact the same adoption agency and meet with a prospective mother. After a protracted interview period, the mother agrees to give the couple her baby, but changes her mind after giving birth. Lucy is devastated.
Elizabeth dies while giving birth to her child. Since no one steps forward to claim the baby, Lucy adopts her. One year later, Karen finds out about Elizabeth's death and letter, which informs her that she has a granddaughter named Ella. She meets the little girl and Lucy, who live in her neighborhood.
Cast
- Naomi Watts as Elizabeth
- Annette Bening as Karen
- Kerry Washington as Lucy
- Samuel L. Jackson as Paul
- Shareeka Epps as Ray
- David Morse as Tom
- Amy Brenneman as Dr. Stone
- Marc Blucas as Steven
- Carla Gallo as Tracy
- Tatyana Ali as Maria
- Jimmy Smits as Paco
- Brittany Robertson as Violet
- Cherry Jones as Sister Joanne
- Elpidia Carrillo as Sofia
- S. Epatha Merkerson as Ada
- Ahmed Best as Julian
- Eileen Ryan as Nora
- Latanya Richardson as Carol
- Lisa Gay Hamilton as Leticia
- Elizabeth Pena as Amanda
Production
Originally going to be produced by Cha Cha Cha Films, Focus Films and Universal Studios; Julie Lynn through Mockingbird Films took over in late 2008 with a production budget of $7 million.[4] Principal photography began in January 2009.[5]
Reception
The movie has been met with generally positive reviews, garnering an 79% approval rating from Rotten Tomatoes and a weighted average score of 64 at Metacritic.[6][7]
The movie was awarded by the Grand Prix du Jury 2010 at the Deauville American Film Festival (France)
References
- ^ McCarthy, Todd (September 16, 2009). "Mother and Child: TIFF Review". Variety. Reed Business Information. http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117941105.html?categoryid=2863&cs=1. Retrieved March 22, 2010.
- ^ Rich, Katey (January 28, 2010). "Sundance Review: Mother And Child". CinemaBlend.com. Cinema Blend LLC. http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Sundance-Review-Mother-And-Child-16778.html. Retrieved March 22, 2010.
- ^ "Mother and Child Release". CraveOnline. ComingSoon.net. http://www.comingsoon.net/films.php?id=50322. Retrieved March 22, 2010.
- ^ Frater, Patrick (November 5, 2008). "Bening, Watts star in 'Mother'". Variety (Reed Business Information). http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117995330.html?categoryid=13&cs=1. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
- ^ "Samuel L. Jackson Joins Mother and Child". ComingSoon.net. CraveOnline. January 30, 2010. http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=52452. Retrieved March 22, 2010.
- ^ "Mother and Child Movie Reviews". Rotten Tomatoes. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mother_and_child/. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- ^ "Mother and Child Reviews at Metacritic.com". Metacritic. http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/motherandchild. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
External links
- Official website
- Official Mother and Child Facebook Page
- Mother and Child at the Internet Movie Database
- Mother and Child at Box Office Mojo
- Mother and Child at Rotten Tomatoes
- Mother and Child at Metacritic
Films directed by Rodrigo García Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her (2000) · Ten Tiny Love Stories (2001) · Nine Lives (2005) · Passengers (2008) · Mother and Child (2009) · Albert Nobbs (2011)
Categories:- 2009 films
- American films
- English-language films
- American drama films
- 2000s drama films
- Films directed by Rodrigo García
- Sony Pictures Classics films
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