Chilean director Maite Alberdi's new Netflix documentary Un hijo propio has been described as deeply disappointing. The film, which tells the true story of a Mexican woman who faked a pregnancy and stole a baby, has been criticised for its fruitless and forced attempt to merge documentary and fiction.
The film follows the case of Alejandra Marin, a woman who tricked her friends, family and husband into believing she was pregnant. Driven by a desire to become a mother, she eventually stole a child to complete her plan. The case generated media attention both in Mexico and internationally.
Alberdi, born in Santiago in 1983, has previously found mainstream success in the documentary genre. Her 2014 film La once showed a playful and irreverent perspective in its portrait of a group of women gathering for tea.
Fictional first half
The film is divided into two distinct sections. The first half is almost entirely fictional and has been criticised for its poor execution. Reviewer Juan Carlos Fangacio Arakaki said the dull acting, clumsy script and stiff staging made it resemble an episode of La rosa de Guadalupe or a similar television product.
The second half of the documentary presents a more direct record of events, mirroring the first part. While this section feels more genuine, it has been described as lacking a powerful or emotional truth.
The film's musical selection has been criticised for attempting to force emotion in a way that borders on the cheapest tricks of melodrama. The narrative has been called diluted and loose, as if exhausted from being told twice without great insight.
Earlier success
Alberdi's 2020 film El agente topo won awards, went viral and inspired a United States television remake starring Ted Danson. Her 2023 release La memoria infinita received excellent reviews and an Academy Award nomination for best documentary.
While El agente topo was praised for its ambiguity and hybridity between genres, Un hijo propio has been judged to fail using those same devices. The film is overwhelmed by artifice and lacks the narrative strength of La memoria infinita.
The 2026 Mexican production stars Ana Celeste, Alejandra Marin and Armando Espitia. It was given a rating of two stars out of five.
