Documentary Retells Baby Abduction with Empathy

Chilean director Maite Alberdi's documentary "A Child of My Own" offers a compassionate re-examination of a Mexican nurse's controversial baby abduction. The film employs a unique approach, blending stylized dramatizations of the events from the perpetrator's viewpoint with factual documentary framing.

Initially, the narrative focuses on Alejandra, a nurse who, facing immense pressure and disappointment after three miscarriages, conspires with a young woman to secretly take her newborn. The film captures Alejandra's elaborate efforts to maintain the illusion of pregnancy until the child's birth.

The documentary's second half shifts to exploring the manifold uncertainties surrounding the case. It presents conflicting narratives and highlights the perpetrator's insistence on her version of events. Despite the legal facts, the film maintains a focus on Alejandra's perspective, even during her 14-year prison confinement.

"A Child of My Own" also touches upon the emotional impact on Alejandra's husband, Arturo, who later admits his own complicity. The film concludes by acknowledging the untold stories beneath the surface, leaving audiences with a nuanced understanding of the complex human elements involved.