There is a short list of directors that even in their lesser work I find greatness and inspiration. John Sayles is one of those directors. I have seen seven of his films and six I'd recommend to anyone in a heartbeat. (LIMBO, I felt was an experiment that failed). Like all his films, it is filled with dozens of well-developed characters. The worlds he creates are full like life, because there are no real side characters. The “minor characters” you know have lives that have nothing to do with the main characters.
The story chronicles the many faces of Mexican baby adoption. We are introduced to six white American woman, who are staying at a hotel where they are waiting for the day when they will be given a baby, which has taken as long as nine months. Skipper (Daryl Hannah, KILL BILL: VOL. 2) is an exercise freak and into holistic medicine. Leslie (Lili Taylor, HIGH FIDELITY) is a single, editor from New York, who the other women think may be a lesbian. Gayle (Mary Steenburgen, WHAT'S EATING GILBERT GRAPE?) is a born again Christian, who actually is a real born again Christian. Nan (Marcia Gay Harden, POLLACK) is a know-it-all, who might be a little too off to be having children. Jennifer (Maggie Gyllenhaal, SECRETARY) is an emotional young woman married to a busy broker. Eileen (Susan Lynch, FROM HELL) is an Irish immigrant living in Chicago, who does not have the same kind of money the other women have.
That’s the white side of the issue. Sayles also shows the Mexican side as well. Señora Muñoz (Rita Moreno, WEST SIDE STORY) is the owner of the hotel and worries about her 30-year-old wanna-be rebel son, Búho (Juan Carlos Vives, TO LOVE TOO MUCH). Asuncion (Vanessa Martinez, LONE STAR) is a maid working at the hotel, who tries to support her two younger siblings. There is a great heartfelt scene between her and Eileen where language clouds the exact meaning of their words, but the two women totally understand each other’s hearts. We also get a look at street kids and pregnant teens.
What’s so remarkable about the film is how well the expansive cast is developed. I can’t stress this enough. This is just another great film from John Sayles.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
