A fairly grim and unrelenting film about the relationship between Joan Crawford and her adopted daughter Christina.

The star is depicted as a vicious, self-serving monster who beat her child for petty reasons. Doubtless many of the actual events are true but, of course, we only see one side of the story - Christina's.

Although one longs for the other point of view, the result is certainly a very effective case history, with hard-driving Faye Dunaway at times looking uncannily like Crawford.

Little Mara Hobel offers a very forthright and clearly delineated portrait of Christina as a child but Diana Scarwid's interpretation of the adult Christina is less certain. Classic quote: "No wire hangers!"