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Casa de los Babys

Play trailer Poster for Casa de los Babys R Released Sep 19, 2003 1h 35m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
58% Tomatometer 106 Reviews 50% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
A group of women, including Skipper (Daryl Hannah), the wealthy young Jennifer (Maggie Gyllenhaal) and the domineering Nan (Marcia Gay Harden), journey from the United States to South America in hopes of easily adopting children. Unfortunately, their plans are complicated by local laws that require the women to live in the foreign nation for an extended period before they can take in orphaned kids. While stuck in another country, the women bond as they share their aspirations and anxieties.

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Casa de los Babys

Casa de los Babys

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Critics Consensus

Well-acted and thought provoking, if not completely satisfying.

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Critics Reviews

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Jay Boyar Orlando Sentinel Each woman is a cardboard cutout, and the talented actresses here seem boxed in by their roles. Rated: 2/5 Oct 17, 2003 Full Review Kathy Cano-Murillo Arizona Republic A raw slice of life that goes beyond the obvious external issues. Rated: 4/5 Oct 16, 2003 Full Review Marjorie Baumgarten Austin Chronicle A jumble of ideas and stunning performances that never coalesce into a satisfying movie. Rated: 2.5/5 Oct 12, 2003 Full Review Lisa Rosman The Brooklyn Rail This movie looks and feels like the dutiful labors of a good man who should have vacationed at this gorgeous mythical land rather than filmed a movie at the site. Jul 25, 2017 Full Review Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com "Casa de los Baby's" is a frustrating and tedious experience to endure. Rated: D+ May 15, 2009 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Didactic rather than dramatic, and schematic rather than realistic, Sayles' femme-driven yarn, set in an anonymous place, lags behind the zeitgeist with little to say about the issue of adoption or First vs. Third World countries. Rated: 2/5 Jun 1, 2006 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member Much talk, but not a whole lot of action. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Audience Member good indie drama from the indy master, John Sayles (lone star) Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member This is one of the most boring and pointless wastes of time I have ever endured. Watched it for a class on War, Terror, and Globalization. The movie made no sense, had no redeeming qualities, and the only thing good about it is that its over rather quickly. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 01/15/23 Full Review Audience Member The acting is good but the action is slow and talky. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Heartbreaking poverty is the first hurdle in this film. Music is a deeply haunting lament that will place pressure on the heartbreak. The naive stupidity of the American and Irish woman comes through brilliantly as the actor's progress through the thickly laden dialogue. If depressed this is not a movie for you to watch. Nibbles: Farleys Rusks. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Audience Member 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). Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis A group of women, including Skipper (Daryl Hannah), the wealthy young Jennifer (Maggie Gyllenhaal) and the domineering Nan (Marcia Gay Harden), journey from the United States to South America in hopes of easily adopting children. Unfortunately, their plans are complicated by local laws that require the women to live in the foreign nation for an extended period before they can take in orphaned kids. While stuck in another country, the women bond as they share their aspirations and anxieties.
Director
John Sayles
Producer
Lemore Syvan, Alejandro Springall
Screenwriter
John Sayles
Distributor
IFC Films
Production Co
Blue Magic Pictures
Rating
R (Some Language|Brief Drug Use)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 19, 2003, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 27, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$475.9K
Runtime
1h 35m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo
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