Review of Casa de los Babys (2003) by Art S — 22 May 2013

John Sayles is the master of multicultural social dramas featuring large casts. In his best work, the multiple story lines reinforce the points he wants to make without becoming too heavy handed (Lone Star may be my favorite of his films).

Here, six women visit an unnamed South American country to adopt babies and we see the expected cultural differences. Marcia Gay Harden steals the show as an ugly American but her character sullies the scenes she is in.

Plus small kids steal and huff spray paint, suggesting that being adopted is an escape from a worse fate? Perhaps there are too many political themes here that overwhelm some of the personal issues surrounding adoption.

So, the result is a little half-baked (but undoubtedly well-intentioned).