In 1928, in Los Angeles, USA, Christine Collins (Angelina Jolie Angelina Jolie), who works at the telephone office operator, raised her son Walter (Gattlin Griffith Gatlin Griffith) alone. The life of mother and son was simple and happy. However, their lives were quickly disrupted, and one day when Christine got off work, she found her son missing. Under the pressure of public opinion, the corrupt Los Angeles police recovered Walter five months later, but Christine found that he was not her own son. She repeatedly asked the police to clarify the facts and help her find the real Walter, but she was repeatedly obstructed and accused, and even was sent to a mental hospital on charges of obstructing the police's official duties. The Reverend Gustav Brigraber (John Malkovich John Markovich), who has always been responsible for exposing police brutality, is on the run for the misfortune of this poor woman. On the other hand, Agent Lester (Michael Kelly) inadvertently discovers a major serial child homicide while investigating a smuggling case. The disappearance of teenage Walter seems to be unfolding.