Mother and Child

Exceptionally well-acted ensemble drama. Fifty-year-old nursing home physical therapist Karen (Bening) is difficult and still regretful over the daughter she gave up 35 years before after a teen pregnancy. It takes the death of her own mother (Ryan) to get Karen to move on and tentatively get involved with patient co-worker Paco (Smits). Karen's daughter is Elizabeth (Watts), a frighteningly self-possessed L.A. lawyer who initiates a no-strings affair with her boss Paul (Jackson)--until she gets pregnant. Meanwhile, married, anxiety-ridden Lucy (Washington) discovers she's infertile and very-determinedly wants to adopt the child of unmarried young Ray (Epps), who isn't sure that Lucy is the right choice.