Interesting and provocative film on single women in their late 30's taking on the burdens of parenthood without a partner. All the women featured are thoughtful and articulate, their families' feelings are aired, ditto friends, medical professionals, etc. Different methods are used by the women...artificial insemination, friend donors, adoption...
This is an extremely complex issue which the film handles well. The thing that raises it above an ordinary doc is that they interview these women ten years later...after the intense emotionalism of new motherhood has passed and they have had to deal with their children by themselves for that time. All say they hadn't appreciated how difficult it would be raising a child alone. None in these follow-up interviews voiced the glowing idealization of parenting that has seeped into our culture. None voiced regret but they weren't asked if they would do it again either.
The overall impression is that the women were sad, tired, wiser than they had been earlier in the film. The children seemed fine...the women had clearly been able to cope with their demands/needs. But I got the impression that they saw their "success" as less satisfying than anticipated.
This one will stick with me. The film touched on something profound...about desire, responsibility, social expectations...what it takes to have a satisfying life and even if such a concept is legitimate...or realistic. When I was young "old maid aunts" were common. Now, with economic liberation, women can create their own lives, without men. But solving one problem creates others.
The film takes us on an emotional roller coaster ride...we share their joy and their disillusionment. And at the end, like Alfie I wonder what it's all about.
8
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