Two Mothers for Zachary

When I first saw this film, I was sure it had to be fictional because I found it incredible to believe in a country supposedly as advanced and civilised as the US that such a court could actually sanction separating a loving mother from her own child.

The film revolves around Jody Ann Shaffell, a decent, law-abiding woman who just happens to be a lesbian. But when her little son Zachary is born, her bigoted, vile-excuse-for-a-mother Nancy Shaffell takes her to court to sue for full custody of the child, citing that a lesbian household is not a suitable environment to raise children in. Valerie Bertinelli does a good job as Jody Ann, portraying her determination and unyielding love for her son while Vanessa Redgrave is just perfect in her role as Nancy, depicting the character's vindictiveness, prejudices and moral blindness.

This is a film not just about Jody Ann's plight as a mother who has lost her infant child for no justifiable reason but also one that questions just what goes through the minds of the judges who serve in US courts that their own personal beliefs are allowed to cloud their rulings, decisions that have an impact on people for many years to come. This is not a film for those with high blood pressure because it just leaves your blood boiling when Jody Ann and her son are continually failed by both the courts and the selfish Nancy. One can only hope that when Zachary is old enough, he realises what a hateful grandmother he has that she kept him away from his devoted mother and he goes on to sue the judge who made such a disgusting, bigoted ruling in the custody battle.

I saw this comment here - quote "looking at it from the moral point of view, the Bible, which is the ultimate moral authority, teaches us that homosexuality is wrong, so wrong it is and the matter cannot be up for discussion" this is the worst comment I ever read on this site. Narrow minded zealotry from the arrogant believers in the book who cannot think their own thoughts outside the straight jacket of fundamentalism. This was a good depiction of a true horror story of bigotry (a view of a straight male). How was what happened the best outcome for the child, or natural justice? This was on TV here in the UK today. It is hard to accept society has not advanced to accept things without reference to religious considerations.

I just saw this movie and I am still shocked. Who could be better mother, friend and parent for child then biological mother? There is not enough words to explain how sick I feel only thinking about Zach's grandmother and uncle. They are more mentally sick then Jody and her life partner. Jody is happy knowing that somebody respect her and care about her - what else could make mother happy knowing that her child is protected? Was Jody more protected with man? I don't think so - the man hurt her - but mother don't believe it, ha, ha, ha - what type of mother is that? Caring? No way; if Jody's mom really care about her own daughter, she will never even dream of doing something like this. Shame of you grandma and shame of you uncle, too. I would like to know what ever happened with Jody and Zach? Are they finally together?

I've just finished seeing this movie for the first time on TV. All the way through I simply could not believe that time and again such decisions were made purely on the basis of the judge's homophobic bias. I kept waiting for someone to stand up and declare the obvious - that it was wrong to deprive a loving, caring mother of her child simply because some bigots don't approve of who she loves.

What amazed me most of all was that at the very start of the movie we were told that grandparents had no legal entitlement to visitation in Virginia. So it was appalling to me that even though there was no basis in law for granting custody to Jody Ann's appalling mother, simply because of a judge's personal bias custody was granted. It makes a mockery of the law and of the US legal system.

I came on here hoping to find that in the eight years since the movie was made commonsense and justice had prevailed and that Jody Ann had finally gotten to bring up her son in a loving, caring, nuturing home. But sadly it seems that bigots still rule in the good IL' US of A.

It also astonished me that no one thought to ask why the grandmother was insisting on the child calling her 'mamma'. This surely confuses the child and is a clear indication that the grandmother's motives aren't in the child's best interests but her own. Clearly, she wanted the child for herself from the start and her daughter's new lifestyle was just an excuse.

I was enraged by Jody Ann's brother and 'best friend'. Both of whom betrayed her and lied on the stand, simply because they were angry that she had chosen to love another woman. They should be ashamed of themselves.

All in all, a sad, depressing indictment of America, of its intolerance for those who don't fit the 'mom's apple pie' image and the grip the raving rightwing lobby has on this country.

I wish Jody Ann all the best. I am sure that when her son is grown and is able to understand the manipulations of his grandmother and the injustices done to his mother he will choose to be with her again.

I believed America to be a democratic society fighting for freedom, yet this film which is a true story, fills me with horror, that firstly a mother should have custody of her daughters baby just because she is gay. Also the fact that her mother was given custody of Zachary, even though she had testified in court that she had known her own daughter was being molested from the age of 12, is that moral?. If we are to believe that only heterosexual couples should have a family, then are we going to ignore the abuse that many children suffer at the hands of so called normal parents. Why should gay parents be put under pressure for wanting a family. My heart goes out to this mother who has suffered intolerable abuse not only from her own mother but that of her own countrymen. I only hope this wrong will be put right,it was a heart wrenching film.