I totally disagree with those critics who say that the ending of "Losing Isaiah" is `wishy-washy' or a `cowardly compromise' (to quote IMDB reviewers). I found it very satisfying and the only one that has a chance of working for this situation. [POSSIBLE SPOILERS FOLLOW] Biological mother Halle Berry makes a very intelligent decision when she enlists the help of Jessica Lange (as the boy's foster mother) in raising the child. It was monstrous to simply wrench the 4 year old boy out of the only home he's ever known and plunk him down in a totally alien environment. No wonder he totally shuts down and withdraws. I believe that what the two women do is something that should be tried in more cases of this type. The judge should have given them joint custody, allowing the child to be kept with the foster mother, but also allowing the biological mother visitation rights, perhaps babysitting him and taking care of him while the other mother is busy. This would give the child an opportunity to get to know his real mother and vice versa, since the boy is a stranger to her as well. As he grows older, he will probably become more curious about his racial heritage, and may eventually grow as close to his real mother as he was to his foster mother in the beginning. At any rate, this is a strong, compelling drama, beautifully acted all around.
Review of Losing Isaiah
