1928年美國(guó)洛杉磯,在電話局接線臺(tái)工作的克莉斯汀•柯林斯(Angelina Jolie 安吉莉娜•朱麗 飾)獨(dú)自撫養(yǎng)兒子沃特(Gattlin Griffith 加特林•格里菲斯 飾),母子的生活簡(jiǎn)單而幸福。然而她們的生活很快被打亂,某天當(dāng)克莉斯汀下班后,發(fā)現(xiàn)兒子不見蹤影。
在公眾的輿論壓力下,腐敗的洛杉磯警方于5個(gè)月后找回沃特,但克莉斯汀發(fā)現(xiàn)這并非自己的親生兒子。她三番五次要求警方澄清事實(shí),幫其尋找真正的沃特,卻一次次受到阻撓和指責(zé),甚至以妨礙警方公務(wù)的罪名被送入精神病院。一向以揭露警方暴行為己任的牧師古斯塔夫•布里格拉伯(John Malkovich 約翰•馬爾科維奇 飾),為了這個(gè)可憐女人的不幸遭遇奔走呼告。
另一方面,探員萊斯特(Michael Kelly 飾)在偵辦一件偷渡案時(shí),無意中發(fā)現(xiàn)了一起重大的連環(huán)兒童殺人案。少年沃特的失蹤案似乎漸露眉目……
對(duì)話文本:
"My name is Christine Collins. On March 10th, my nine-year-old son Walter Collins disappeared. The five-month investigation led to a boy being brought to Los Angeles from Dekalb Illinois. The LAPD told me and all of you that this boy was my son. He was not my son."
"Is this Mrs. Christine Collins?" "Yes." "I'm the pastor over at Saint Paul’s Presbyterian.
I have made it my mission in life to bring to light all the things the LAPD wish none of us ever knew about.”
"This police department does not tolerate dissent, and you are in a position to embarrass them and they do not like it."
"I just want my son home."
"Why are you doing this, Mrs Collins?"
"You'll stop looking for my son!"
"Why should we be looking for someone we've already found?"("That is your responsibility!")
"The mayor wants this to go away."
"You know..."
"I can't do this."
"You are a conveyed prisoner to the Los Angeles County General Hospital Psychopathic Ward."
"By signing this, it certified the police were right in sending you here for observation andabsolves them all responsibilities."
"I won’t sign that!”
"Orderly!"
"No. "
"What the hell have you done with Christine Collins?"
"I know my son is out there. I can still feel him."
"Your son unfortunately was not living first, but if you do it right, he may very well be the last."
"Your handling of Christine Collins' case has exposed this department to public ridicule."
"If the boy you brought back is not Walter Collins, then where the hell is he?"
"I want my son back! I want my son back!"