Drama: A black woman searches for her birth mother and finds an emotionally distraught white woman and her dysfunctional family.
PLOT:
Hortense (MARIANNE JEAN-BAPTISTE) is a black optometrist who, after her adoptive mother's death, searches for her birth mother. She finds Cynthia (BRENDA BLETHYN), an emotionally distraught factory worker who's still raising her surly twenty-year-old daughter, Roxanne (CLAIRE RUSHBROOK) who sweeps streets when not spending time with her boyfriend, Paul (LEE ROSS). When Roxanne's photographer uncle, Maurice (TIMOTHY SPALL) and aunt Monica (PHYLLIS LOGAN) host her 21st birthday, Cynthia drops the unexpected announcement of their newest, and unknown till now, family member.
WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?
Since neither the actors nor the story will draw them, it's very doubtful.
WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R
For language.
CAST AS ROLE MODELS:
MARIANNE JEAN-BAPTISTE plays a dedicated professional who searches for her birth mother.
BRENDA BLETHYN plays an emotional wreck whose one night stands years ago left her with several daughters, one of which she put up for adoption (being only sixteen at the time).
CLAIRE RUSHBROOK plays the twenty-one-year-old with a bad attitude toward her mother.
While this film has been lauded as one of the best of the year, it's definitely one of the slowest moving. Static camera shots stare down the actors for excruciating amounts of time and betraying its title, the movie's secrets and lies certainly aren't that earth shattering and do nothing to advance what little of a plot there is. Yes, the performances are good, but one can take only so much distraught behavior from emotionally distraught people before it gets irritating. It's only when the Cynthia character is allowed to blossom that the movie begins to rise from the doldrums but, alas, the film makers then drag her back down into her bleak world again. If you like character driven movies, you'll probably enjoy this film. But with little humor to break the drab atmosphere (other than some quick montage photo sessions), nearly no plot, and stationary camera shots that will lull you to sleep, this movie will never break out from the art house crowd. We give it a 5 out of 10.
OUR WORD TO PARENTS:
It's doubtful kids will want to see this, but if they happen to come across it, here's a quick look at the material. Profanity is limited mainly to "f" words and several milder words. The topic of adoption and finding birth mothers is the big issue and this extended dysfunctional family certainly isn't a good example of how a family should act. Other than some drinking, smoking and some mild discussions about birth control, there's not a great deal to object to. Still, we suggest you read the category listings to determine whether this film is appropriate for you and your family.
After Cynthia tells Roxanne that her birth wasn't planned, Roxanne says "You should have thought about that before dropping your knickers."
In a quick photo montage, we see a woman in lingerie, but no nudity is seen.
Monica is seen sitting on the toilet, tampon in hand and her underwear pulled down, but no nudity is seen.
Cynthia adjusts her clothed breasts while looking in the mirror, and then seems to fondle them for a moment.
A friend tells Hortense that she "did the deed" with a complete stranger. Hortense asks her if she used a condom and the friend says that she used two, "one after the other."
Cynthia asks Roxanne if she's using the pill. She later says: that she hopes Paul uses a condom; that she has a "dutch cap" (diaphragm) that Roxanne can use; and that Roxanne could be fitted for "the coil" (an IUD).
Roxanne and Paul pull each other's clothes off down to their underwear. He then gets on top of her between her legs, but no nudity or movement is seen.
Roxanne tells her mom that she hopes she's "taking care of herself" and doesn't want to see her get "knocked up."
When Cynthia asks Hortense what she uses for contraception, she replies she uses condoms.
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