An arresting lead performance from Maggie Gyllenhaal carries SherryBaby, a difficult and downbeat film about a troubled young woman.
Gyllenhaal stars as Sherry Swanson, just released from prison, attempting to re-adjust to normal life and re-connect with the daughter she hasn´t seen in three years.
Stumbling blocks in her way: a parole officer (effectively played by Giancarlo Esposito) watching her every move, an uncaring and ignorant family (including Sam Bottoms as her abusive father), and her brother and sister-in-law, who have been raising her daughter for the past years and want to protect her from any drastic changes.
There´s also an unending urge to shoot up for this recovering junkie. Gyllenhaal is terrific as Sherry, carrying the weight of the film on her shoulders while injecting a sense of sympathy into this mostly unlikable character, who makes all the wrong decisions before finally doing something right at the end of the film.
Story is a bit conventional, however, and the drama occasionally obvious and/or forced. Not an enjoyable movie in any sense, but worthy of some level of admiration.
I´d be more enthusiastic if I wasn´t more impressed by 2004´s similarly-themed Down to the Bone, and by Vera Farmiga´s excellent performance in that film. Still admirable; took honors for best film and best actress at the 2006 Karlovy Vary Film Fest.
