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This blog is the work of an educated civilian, not of an expert in the fields discussed.

Friday, November 23, 2012

October Baby [SPOILER]

I knew where this was coming from before watching it, but its journey of self-discovery plot seemed worthwhile. It was -- a young woman finds out she was the product of a botched abortion (it happens but since >1% of abortions occur when a fetus is viable, rather rarely), struggles with it and goes on a search to find her birth mother.  Her father is scared for her and doesn't think she can handle the full truth (yes, there's more) while a childhood friend that clearly loves her helps.  She is a Christian, but this isn't forced down our throat much -- there is a moment of truth in a church, but yeah, some people believe and the message is fairly universal. 

There are really only two well known actors in the film, one in a very good cameo (see also, Diamond Men), though maybe one or more of the others popped up in something else.  Still, I thought the acting was good overall, especially for an independent message film (some on Amazon hated it, partially since instant video has a vague description; the rental box made it fairly clear it was a pro-life film ... films have messages, some we don't like).  The film also doesn't lay things that thick -- a few scenes flag its sympathies, but  much of it is a typical young person's personal journey with quirky characters sort of thing.   The best way to promote something.

I'm pro-choice, add the duh for anyone not a newbie, but appreciated this film overall. Early on, there was some implication that survivors of abortion (of course, most abortions don't occur at 24 weeks, but most death penalty trials don't have innocent defendants or very sympathetic ones either, a theme in more than one film too) suffer psychologically somehow. It was all very vague.  But, other than that, and a mention that the woman who adopted her volunteered at a "crisis pregnancy center" (just cited, those in the know will catch it), the film isn't really some sort of bad propaganda piece.  It is about Hannah's journey to acceptance.

It amounts to an adopted child's journey and those occur, down to them forgiving their birth mother, and the mother's desire to forget about that time in her life. Toss in a cute love story and a realistic look at the conflicted feelings of the couple who adopted here. And, the ultimate theme is one of forgiveness.  The nurse who helped her birth mother has a powerful anti-abortion message to give, but someone who helped perform late term abortions would be akin to those who helped rape victims get an abortion -- I don't think 24 week fetuses are mere tissue either.

The viewer might elide that and the vast majority that occur early on, yes.  Still, rather understandable.  Even then, the message of forgiveness is not that of a stereotypical right wing sort of thing.  I'm game there.  The music was a bit heavy-handed but the film was not. The DVD has some extras, including from an actual abortion survivor and the credits provides a surprise about the woman who played the birth mother. 

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