Sherrybaby

Maggie Gyllenhaal is certainly the story here, as a slutty addict trying to stay clean after coming out of prison, so she can reclaim the love of her young daughter, lost when she was deep in a love affair with heroin. There’s an intimation of voyeuristic slumming in this production, but also an authentic attempt at intimacy with broken lives being pieced back together. It follows a familiar indie formula, but the writing and direction by Laurie Collyer has some understated grace. The supporting cast is solid too. It’s hard to pinpoint just what this film lacks, but with Maggie it’s worth watching, if you don’t mind an hour and a half in the company of desperately needy people. (2006, dvd, n.) *6* (MC-66.)