Director Lisa Cholodenko
Starring Annette Bening, Mark Ruffalo and Julliane Moore
Sundance, at which this premiered, is the indie film festival. Yet it showcases some of the most universal films. Past winners include The Station Agent and American Splendor. The cast of the film, not to mention the origin of its title, gives it a larger mainstream appeal. In fact, the main actors are responsible from taking the film from script to filming. But it’s definitively indie.
Director Lisa Cholodenko has made a few poor films in the past, but this time she comes out on top, by managing a moving film despite the complicated scenario.
A lesbian couple has given birth to a child each, through artificial insemination, using the same anonymous sperm donor. On turning eighteen, their daughter contacts the sperm bank to find out who her father is. She contacts ‘Paul’ and, along with her brother Laser, begins a friendship with him. Young, successful and unmarried, Paul creates a good impression on the children. Problems, however, ensue once the Paul meet the ‘adults’ he helped start a family.
The main intention of the script is that adults spend more time worrying about their children, but are usually the least alright. Sure, that does sum it up, but it’s much more than that, of course. The performances are fabulous and the dialogue is fresh, current and yes, universal. Picking which aspect is better would be a difficult call.
David Pinto