The latest film from acclaimed Columbian director Rodrigo Garcia Barcha, Mother and Child is one of those rare treats, a film who's subject is so relatable and understandable to a broad audience that it holds a mirror up to our own lives and allows us to learn something about our selves from watching the film. The film follows the lives of three women, the people in their lives and their various journeys through parenthood. The film boasts some amazing performances from some of the best actors in the business including Annette Bening, Naomi Watts, Kerry Washington, Samuel L. Jackson and Jimmy Smitts. What is nice about their roles is that for the most part they are all completely different characters than we've seen any of these actors portray before and they all play them with authority and an organic realism.

The film begins by introducing us to three women, Karen (Bening), Elizabeth (Watts) and Lucy (Washington). The women are complete strangers ... or are they? Their stories unfold separately and simultaneously as we get an inside look into their lives. Karen, who is played by the always amazing Annette Bening is single, in her late 50's, a nurse and living and taking care of her sick mother. Karen got pregnant when she was fourteen and was forced to give the child up for adoption. In the years that past, her mother was hard on her and discouraged her from marrying, starting a family or looking for her child. Karen has been hardened by both her mother and life in general and is a pretty bitter person. She resents her mother's close relationship with her housekeeper and her daughter. In fact, because of her past Karen practically hates kids altogether. One day she meets Paco (Jimmy Smits), a fellow nurse who asks Karen out. At first she is as rude and unappealing as usual but after her mother finally passes away decides to give him a chance. Eventually they marry and Karen starts to heal. She begins to open up to Paco and he encourages her to look for her lost daughter.

The second story focuses on Elizabeth, played exceedingly well by Naomi Watts. Elizabeth is a high-end attorney who knows what she wants and is good at her job. Elizabeth has no connections, she'd not married and was given up for adoption and has no family to speak of. She is cold, calculating and very strong willed. Elizabeth doesn't like to stay in one city too long but is now living in Los Angeles and was just hired at a prestigious new firm. The firm is run by Paul played by a wonderfully out of character Sam Jackson, who is a widower that begins to have a crush on Elizabeth. The two start a relationship but Paul breaks it off when he begins to fall too hard and realizes that the cold Elizabeth will never open up to him. Elizabeth is also having an affair with her next-door neighbor but more to annoy his wife than to be with him. Elizabeth never wanted children and therefore had her tubes tied when she was twenty-one so you understand why she's so shocked to find out that she is pregnant. She decides to leave the firm and have the baby on her own, never telling Paul the truth. However through her pregnancy Elizabeth begins to forgive the woman that gave her up and discover a bit about herself.

The third story revolves around Lucy, brilliantly played by Kerry Washington. Lucy desperately wants to have a baby with her husband but cannot. Her inability to have a child begins to put a burden on her marriage. She convinces him to consider adoption and they go to an orphanage to meet a nun played by Cherry Jones. The nun introduces them to a woman named Ray who is pregnant and very picky about who will adopt her child. Ray is eventually impressed with Lucy and "chooses" them to raise her child. Eventually Lucy's husband begins to have cold feet and decides to leave Lucy knowing that he will never be able to have a child of his own if they stay together. Lucy is determined to be a mother and decides to raise the child herself but in the eleventh hour, Ray changes her mind.

Now here is where the stories begin to connect. The nun that helped Lucy is also the nun at the orphanage where Karen's child was taken after she gave birth. Paco and Karen go to see her and while the nun cannot tell Karen where her child is, she does tell her that if she leaves a letter and her daughter comes looking for her, then the note will bring them together. As Karen waits and Elizabeth gives birth, the nun tells Lucy that there is another child available if she would still like to give being a mother one more chance. What follows is a group of coincidences that bring three women's lives remarkably close and teaches them all the meaning of motherhood. I was really surprised how much I enjoyed this film. It's touching, funny and surprisingly sexy in some parts. The actors are all terrific and I was really impressed with Naomi Watts and Sam Jackson, who both played against type. Annette Bening is always fantastic and Kerry Washington is really one of the nest young actresses around. The script and directing by Rodrigo Garcia Barcha was excellent and shows the filmmakers ability to reach an audience with a simple theme and idea. In the end, this is a wonderful, dramatic piece of art that features great acting and touches you in all the right places. Do yourself a favor and take your mom to see this film on Sunday!