CUSTODY
US, 2016, 104 minutes, Colour.
Viola Davis, Hayden Panettiere, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Tony Shalhoub, Ellen Burstyn, Dan Fogler, Jaden Michael, Bryce Lorenzo.
Directed by James Lapine.
Custody has a strong cast as well as talented director for a film that was screened on television rather than in cinemas.
The film opens with a definition of custody with an emphasis on protective care.
This film is about children’s courts in the United States. Viola Davis portrays a judge, very committed to her work, with a 23 year marriage to her husband, Tony Shalhoub, and a son going to college. The principal case for the film concerns a Hispanic woman with two children, Catalina Sandino Moreno, whose husband is in prison, who works in a factory, who is concerned about her son and the company that he keeps in the apartment block, losing her temper with him which leads to an injury, the school intervening, authorities taking the children away into care and then a foster house, her presence in the courts, her concern about her children, a woman with angry outbursts. The third story concerns her lawyer, recently graduated, her first case in this family court, appointed just a moment before with no knowledge of the woman was a situation. She is played by Hayden Panettierre.
While the film shows the story of the single mother in great detail, her relationship with the children, the effect of care and fostering on them, the calling of her prisoner husband for testimony, her temper and outbursts in the court, there is also a strong background story of the judge, her husband’s infidelity with a friend, her relying on her family, especially her father who is more than a touch chauvinist, for support, and her divorce. There is also an underlying theme in the lawyer’s story, her coming from a wealthy family, an uncle who had molested her as a child, her grandmother (Ellen Burstyn) who has kept this a secret to protect the family and is now challenged by her Granddaughter to reveal the truth.
The film is a blend of emotional response, both angry and compassionate, as well as examining the law and strict interpretation as well as favouring the welfare of the child.
The film was directed by James Lapine, who wrote Into the Woods, and directed a small range of films including impromptu with Judy Davis, about Chopin and George Sand,
1. The title, the dictionary explanation? Differences in custody within family, within marriages?
2. The family courts, background, organisation, the officials, lawyers, the judge? Cases? Hearings?
3. Three stories interconnected? Three women and their stories?
4. The theme of the single mother? Parents, prison father, rights, sexual abuse and the truth for families, marital fidelity and communications, careers?
5. Sarah’s story: her husband, his crimes, considered dead, prison? The two children and their ages? The little girl, trust and love? The son, going to the neighbours, the dangers, drugs, the mother’s fear? Sarah and her temper? Going down to the apartment, dragging her son back, pushing him, his hitting his head, treating his head?
6. The boy at school, asleep in class, the teacher concerned, the principal, the supervisor of children? Summoning Sarah? Her reaction, her temper, going to the hospital, care for her children?
7. Sarah, work, the workplace, her friends, the boss?
8. Under the officer judging the case where the child had starved to death?
9. The case, the authorities, her lawyer being appointed at the last minute? The behaviour in court? The judge, the officials, the discussions, Sarah’s outbursts, her lawyer and the attempt to control? Alienation between client and lawyer and the lawyer being fired? Issues of custody, visitation rights? The visits, the short time, the children going to meals, the children’s reactions? In foster care, Sarah arriving, the children fighting, the foster mother absent at the shops? The abducting the children, their meal, her calling Ally? Ally coming to rescue them? A reconciliation, Sarah learning to depend on Ally? The enjoyment of the Thanksgiving dinner?
10. Variety of officials in the court, the woman supporting Sarah? The other officers, issues of time and resources for fostering? Keith Denholtz and his being straight up-and-down? In court? His accusing Ally flirting with him, his later flirting?
11. The resolution of the case, Sarah’s speech and outburst, her rights? The judge, her reply, the emphasis on priorities for the children?
12. Ally, her age, law course, work, doing the right thing to help others, the first case, no preparation, the lack of documents being given her, meeting Sarah, the awkwardness in the court, Keith Denholtz and severe stances, the supervisor? Her family story, the bond with her grandmother, coming to the meal, her parents, her uncle with the child, the background of sex abuse, and experiences, confronting her grandmother, the grandmother keeping the secret for the sake of the family? Ally confronting her, to tell her father? The experience of rescuing Sarah and the children, driving back? But the joy of the Thanksgiving dinner? With Sarah and the children instead of her family?
13. The calling of the father, appearance in court, admitting he is not a good father, his sentence, his rights, wanting to meet his children? Sarah and agreeing?
14. Martha, the story of a judge, 23 years married to Jason, the son going to college, her moods, missing her son? The meeting of her friend in the street, the dinner together, the couples, his explanation of the infidelity, Jason and his trips? Her ousting Jason, cutting his clothes? Time passing, the dinner with her father and sister, her reaction to her father’s seeming justification of men’s behaviour? Possible forgiveness, the meal with her father, the meeting, Jason asked for a divorce, the end of the marriage? His reasons? Martha visiting her son, talking of the situation?
15. Her handling the case, order in the court, the staff, listening attentively, attitude of care, her reactions, interactions with Ally? Sarah to have anger management? The hearings? Her final speech in response to Sarah’s outburst? The stances of the court?
