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Casa de los Babys

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Casa de los Babys

R

Released Sep 19, 2003

1h 35m

Drama

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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.

Critics Consensus

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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John Sayles

Director

Maggie Gyllenhaal

Jennifer

Marcia Gay Harden

Nan

Daryl Hannah

Skipper

Susan Lynch

Eileen

Mary Steenburgen

Gayle

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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, Anarchist's Convention Films
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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