The Changeling
Ann George
ENG 225
Mr. Angelo
February 8, 2009
One of the most interesting movies I have viewed recently is “The Changeling.” This movie resonates strongly in today’s society; the uneven struggle between systematic police arrogance and corruption and the people brave and determined to expose the depths of the problem and mitigate it. It will also reflect a mother’s portrayal of undying love and devotion for exposing the truth at any cost for her missing child.
Changeling, directed by Clint Eastwood (2008), is based on a true story. Christine Collins, (played by Angelina Jolie), a single mother of a 9 year old son, Walter Collins (played by Gattlin Griffith). Christina’s story begins in 1928. The Collins family appears to live a relatively normal, quiet life, until one day when Christina steps out to work to replace an ill coworker at the phone company. Christina’s plan was to leave and a nanny would arrive shortly afterwards. But, when she returns she finds her home empty. After searching the neighborhood into the night she phones the police for help but nothing can be done until a twenty-four hour missing threshold has been met. The news however, of the missing boy reaches the front pages of the newspapers in town and she and her missing son immediately become big news. It was months after the child’s disappearance, that Ms. Collins receives word from the police, through detective work, have found her son, he is alive on and his way home. The reporters are called to the train station for a political fanfare, with the finding of the lost child. Of course, the LAPD will receive a big boost to their citizen popularity, after being maligned for being corrupt. Ms. Collins says “this is not my son,” but, Captain Jones insists she is mistaken. So, she takes the child home on the Captain’s insistence. Christine then pleads with the Police Department that they continue searching for her son.
Changeling delves into the...