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.
