Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on April 2014

In 1979, a gay couple (a female impersonator and a lawyer) that want to adopt the Down Syndrome son of a prison-bound junkie-hooker neighbor runs afoul of institutionalized homophobia. A bit obvious, but the characters nonetheless ring true, thanks to fine performances by Alan Cumming, Garret Dillahunt and young Isaac Leyva that bring the material up from what could have been maudlin melodrama. Highlights the difficulties that partners wishing to be parents still face today in adopting a child, even one that no one else wants. Side note: some fine singing by Cumming. (97 min)