Changeling

Clint Eastwood

The movie has a simple, yet, strong manner in which it quietly lays upon the table issues our society has always shied away from. The film rejects stereotypes in asserting that a child does not have to be a deviant to go missing. A mother does not have to be self-obsessed or an alcoholic to lose her child. Yet, she (Angelina Jolie) does. When this happens, she sets out to find her son with all her strength, courage and determination. But does a ‘mere’ woman really have a chance against a police force, who, however corrupt, tackles all criticism with ruthlessness?

Holding her ground about her refusal to accept the wrong child as her son, she lands in an asylum where most women are paying for having gotten on the wrong side of a cop. Her demand for these political prisoners of sorts is a reflection of the fact that she is not just a loving and protective mother but also deeply devoted to the cause of justice. This is what makes the movie unique. It combines the subjects of corruption, motherhood and feminism in such a subtle manner that it embarrasses the audience for not having given it a thought earlier. Without aggressively asking its viewers to form opinions, it evokes their compassion in such a way that one cannot help but take the protagonist’s side.