Return to Zero

Good movie; great story line BUT!!! Gratuitous sex, language, crude talk was completely unjustified, unnecessary and annoying. Minnie Driver is a great actress but her credibility went down for me in this movie. No actor or actress needs to reduce themselves to such gutter language and behavior, ESPECIALLY taking God's holy Name in vain.

Minnie Driver's performance in this film is one of the most beautiful performances I have ever seen. Andrea Anders was perfect too. This movie is filled with real moments. Many of those moments are hard to imagine for those not touched by losing a baby and are very hard to watch for those who have. Nothing is fake... nothing is "hollywood." This is some of the best storytelling I have ever seen. As the credits rolled... I sat there feeling something... I am not sure what. It was not a good feeling... or a bad feeling... I just 'felt' something very strongly. I am not sure how to describe it... but I know for a fact that no film has ever left me feeling like that before.

After some years, happily married Minnie Driver (as Maggie) and husband Paul Adelstein (as Aaron Royal) are expecting their first child. The affluent couple is understandably excited about the arrival of little "Arthur". However, a tragic occurrence during Ms. Driver's ninth month changes everything. "Return to Zero" is based on a true story, according to the opening. Written and directed by Sean Hanish, it's rare to find believability in the "true story" boast, but this one is genuine. Thanks to Mr. Hanish and his co-stars, it gets off to a great start. Although the couple is wealthier and a little more melancholy than most, we can identify with their circumstance and reactions – for example, Driver's tantrum while returning a gift. Yet, while the basics remain intact, the couple drifts away from the audience as they drift away from each other. We lose touch. The confusing flashback to childbirth and loud Christmas in Las Vegas and seem out of place. After an affair ends abruptly and Mr. Adelstein's father pontificates, an effectively emotional conclusion brings it home.

******* Return to Zero (3/8/14) Sean Hanish ~ Minnie Driver, Paul Adelstein, Alfred Molina, Connie Nielsen

I truly appreciated the making of this movie, and believe everyone should see it! I find the arrogance of a previous reviewer appalling. This movie was made to break the silence for EVERYONE who suffered pregnancy or infant loss! The central theme of the movie was about still birth because that was the individual experience of the creators but it was not meant to isolate any one, nor was it made to diminish the grief people like me felt losing a baby at 23 weeks. I'm not sure if my review has any value as I'm not part of the elite stillbirth club, shucks if only my baby had hung on 1 more week her death would have held the correct medical term! *rolls eyes* I followed and promoted this movie because I believe it's important. If you have never experienced a loss watch it, chances are pretty good you will know someone who will and it does a excellent job of telling you what not to say/do! This movie shares a truth that you can not understand if you've never been there! I saw my pain, my anger and my fear on screen, imagine that ! My favorite part of the movie is expressed in the quote 'it's not just the loss of the baby, it's the loss of the possibility of what could have been' ! Too bad some people still don't get it! Sad really! It's a tough movie to watch but so important. Minnie Driver did a amazing job as did all those involved!! I may have expressed a little more than a review but I feel it's important that NO ONE is made to feel like their loss has no value.

Christy - I am a mother of a stillborn child, having lost my son 12 years ago. I can honestly say in all my years of my own experience and helping TONS of other parents, I have NEVER heard of taking the stillborn child home for a night! Wow! It was brutally hard to leave the hospital without my son, but I think it would've been 1000x harder to try and take him home. I may be wrong, if this loss has taught me anything it's that you really can't say for sure about anything unless you've lived it, but I just can't fathom it. In a bereaved parent's shoes, I will say I don't find it morbid. Before my loss I probably would have, but you see it differently when you love that child with a mom's heart. I do know hospitals try and give you as much of a "normal" experience as possible. They will bathe, dress, swaddle, take pics, etc. It really is healing in an odd way. But taking them home? I can't imagine.