Stars: Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, Mia Wasikowska, Josh Hutcherson, Yaya DaCosta

106 mins

WITH seven Oscar nominations and not a single win between them, Annette Bening and Julianne Moore join that illustrious list as two of Hollywood’s greatest and shamefully unrewarded actresses.

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Both should expect further nominations for their performances in director Lisa Cholodenko’s touching comedy, an emotionally-raw portrait of a family in crisis that doesn’t ever become gloomy or depressing.

Control freak doctor Nic (Bening) and her long-term partner Jules (Moore) have each raised a child, Joni (Mia Wasikowska, from Tim Burton’s Alice In Wonderland) and Laser (Josh Hutcherson), using sperm from the same anonymous donor.

The family unit is secure and happy, and the two women lavish love upon their well-adjusted teen offspring.

When Joni and Laser decide to secretly track down their biological father, they bring organic restaurant owner Paul (Mark Ruffalo) in their happy home.

Paul is a slacker, who rides a motorcycle and is sleeping with one of his waitresses (Yaya DaCosta).

Nic understandably feels threatened – “He’s not a father.

He’s our sperm donor.” – but Jules tries to remain calm, accepting a job offer from Paul to landscape his garden.

Unexpected sexual tension between Jules and Paul threatens everything the two women have worked so hard to build.