Casa de los babys (2003)

Six American women who planned on travelling to South America to adopt babies are forced, by law, to live there.

Director:

John Sayles

Writer:

John Sayles

Stars:

Daryl Hannah, Lili Taylor, Mary Steenburgen

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Angelina Peláez	...	Doña Mercedes
Lizzie Curry Martinez	...	Sor Juana (as Lizzie Martínez)
Vanessa Martinez	...	Asunción (as Vanessa Martínez)
Amanda Álvarez	...	Blanca
Said Martinez	...	Eusebio (as Said Martínez)
Abel Salas	...	Bus Driver 1
Marco Mondragón	...	Bus Driver 2
José Reyes	...	Van Driver
Claudia Benitez	...	Woman on Bus (as Claudia Benítez)
Ignacio de Anda	...	Tito (as Ignacio De Anda)
José Reyes Jr.	...	Grande
Emmanuel González	...	Chico
El Flaco de Oro de Acapulco	...	El Tuerto (as El Flaco De Oro De Acapulco)
Dave Baez	...	Rufino (as David Ortíz)
Blanca Loaria	...	Socorro

Storyline

The film was made in Acapulco, Mexico. Six women -- dreamy Eileen, abrasive Nan, athletic Skipper, brusque Leslie, vivacious Jennifer and patient Gayle -- are staying at a hotel in Latin America, run by Señora Muñoz. Fed up with the long delays of the adoption system in the United States, they are passing the days waiting to adopt local children to bring back home with them.

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Plot Keywords:

adoption | baby | eye patch | work out | gossip | 

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Taglines:

Six Women. One Dream.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some language and brief drug use

Details

Official Sites:

IFC Films Official site [es]

Country:

USA Mexico

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

1 January 2004 (Israel)

Also Known As:

A senki gyermekei

Filming Locations:

Mexico

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$36,456 (USA) (19 September 2003)

Gross:

$475,940 (USA) (21 November 2003)

Company Credits

Production Co:

IFC Films, Springall Pictures, Blue Magic Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Leslie: [Leslie and Gayle are watching Spanish-language TV] Their stuff is worse than our stuff.
Gayle: I just wish I could speak it like you do.
Leslie: You don't need to understand the words to watch TV. Stupidity is the universal language.

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Connections

References The Stepford Wives (1975)

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Soundtracks

"Caña Brava"
Written by Antonio Abreu
Performed by Gupo Fantasma
Published by PHAM
Courtesy of Sones del Méxicide, S.A. de C.V.

User Reviews

another superb "slice-of-life" by Sayles

I enjoy Sayles because he always gives you more than you expect. This film is about 6 women trying to adopt children from Mexico, but it is also a commentary on many aspects of a life we, as Americans, may never understand. One plot line is that of the young maid at the hotel who is raising her 2 younger siblings, and has given her own child up for adoption. Another plot details the lives of 3 brothers who talk about their mother, but appear to live alone on the streets, huffing spray paint and sleeping on the beach. Still another plot involves the son of the hotel owner, who is convinced that the adoption of Mexican babies by Americans is imperialism at its peak. His mother, who owns the hotel, reveals her feelings when she talks about how easily men get caught up in politics; her own husband is banned from the state and has taken up with a young Spanish girl, leaving her to run the hotel and adoption service by herself. Meanwhile, the viewer finds out the motivation of each woman who is seeking to adopt. The women are somewhat catty and mean, but are under a lot of stress as they have been in Mexico for 2 months already. All in all, a wonderful film. Sayles offers a true, if not depressing, view of life in Mexico, especially for women. This life is in sharp contrast with the woes of the American women, and it really makes you think about our lives here.