Mother and Child

Mother and Child steps into the lives of middle-aged Karen (Annette Bening), once a teen mother, her estranged, solitary, and fiercely independent daughter Elizabeth (Naomi Watts), and Lucy (Kerry Washington), an adopter looking for a child. Exploring a raft of relationships – played out through fleeting affairs, run-ins with over-nurturing parents, and awkward meetings – director Rodrigo García casts an observant eye across intertwining lives. Almost a series of vignettes, what he creates is a slow-burning, often moving series of relationships, exploring the effects of breaks in the reproductive chain. Mothers and children, present or absent, echo throughout the lives of complex characters. Never rushing, García gives his subjects plenty of room to breathe. His steady, practiced gaze highlights the effects of lost time and connections and brings out a host of great performances. Slow-moving but ultimately rewarding, it's a rare and tender character study that's richer for taking its time. [Nicola Balkind]