Review

A completely engaging experience, Alias Betty mixes elements of crime thriller, family drama, mystery, morality tale and, surprisingly, comedy. But aside from its ability to expertly handle multiple genres, the film has a passionate interest in its characters. Each one (and there are many) is written and directed with a human touch, thanks to Miller's intelligent adaptation of British mystery guru Ruth Rendell's novel "The Tree of Hands." When an internationally acclaimed novelist (Kiberlain) loses her young son in a freak accident, her mentally unstable mother tries to heal the wounds by kidnapping another boy as a replacement. This sets off a spectacular chain of events for all parties involved, including the kidnapped boy's mother and the shady characters that pepper her life. The narrative is a bit pulpy, but the characters are crafted with the kind of sensitivity that prevents the film from steamrolling into melodramatic mayhem. Anchored by a spectacular performance from Kiberlain, Alias Betty paints effective portraits of people in crisis and the difficult choices they make to create stability in their lives. (French with English subtitles)

Mekado Murphy