Mix-Up (1985) review

Amateurish, drab documentary investigates a curious baby switcheroo that took place back in the late 1930's in England where two families were given the wrong daughters - a problem that wasn't corrected until many years later. The premise of the story raises a lot of global questions about heredity and the family dynamic (one mother knew the child wasn't hers and treated it as such, the other didn't care and was very loving) - even George Bernard Shaw took an interest in the situation (back in the day) - but the execution is, to me, unbearable: Romand's pretentious framing, the tacky 'reenactments,' the awkward direct-to-camera speeches (read off of cards, I'm guessing), the fact that Romand's getting to the case close to fifty years after the fact (!), with everyone aged and worn from re-telling the tale over and over. Despite the hour running time it tries the patience and makes Apted's Up series more impressive in comparison.