The Surrogate

Jasmine Batchelor and Brooke Bloom were exquisite. Their silence spoke volumes. This film is beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. I have to admit, I didn't expect to agree with Jess but I really empathized with her and admired her ability to embrace the uncertainties of parenthood. Being good humans can be so hard....but we should still keep trying. Also, I think the lack of music and unnatural sounds in the background intensified the drama. I loved it because I got to decide how to feel and process my own feelings instead of being directed. This film will stay with me for a long, long time.

Gave it 20 mins. Just had to turn it off. Was simply the Most boring film ever. Was falling asleep. Of the 20 mins... 15 was without dialogue. Seriously... Don't waste your time.

Absolutely disagree with the one other review.... no films like this one, the main character is terrific, her dilemmas, arguments, reasoning, sense of guilt.... not sure about the supporting ones, but she is phenomenal.... and I could watch her for two more hours..... very good film

This film raises tough questions and moral dilemmas and I love it for that and for so much more.

For starters, Jasmine Batchelor is impeccable in this film, she truly commands the emotional labour of being a pregnant m/c black woman who is morally and socially conscious and sensitive to catering to other people's needs and comfortabilities. Throughout the development of the film and her own character, Jess learns to be less accommodating of privileged able bodied people's comfortabilities and spaces and to open up the discussion for the advocation, support and enrichment of educating oneself more towards disabilities and disabled people's perspectives and lives, learning how and why they deserve to be treated as equals, no matter how chromosomes may differ or what preconceived limitations the majority of society may place upon them.

Metaphorically speaking, Jess guides us through her own journey as if we are being shaped in her own womb as learners and empaths in her appreciation for her own child and others who live with deficiencies. She does not have an idealistic ideology or mindset that parenthood is easily manageable and controllable, in fact she acknowledges that parenthood is inescapably difficult several times across the span of her journey and it makes her even more palatable as a character.

The tensions in the film are brilliantly conveyed, the intersectionality of being black and middle class v upper class v working class, is essentially communicated and the complicated nature of relationships are realistically portrayed and explored. And even with its final shot, it tugs you at your heart strings on how calming contraceptive experiences can be as well as complex, strenuous and difficult.

Indie but boring and I believe can be better in many area. Disappointing indie film