POWFest 2012 serves up a double bill of documentaries on fertility-related issues for its Saturday (3/10) afternoon screenings. One film, Angel for Hire, takes more of a historical perspective on its topic, adding perspective and focus to a story being told in the present, while the other, Ei Voor Later (Eggs for Later), is more in the mold of Ross McElwee (Sherman's March) piece; a personal story told by its filmmaker, overflowing with charm and easy identification.
A still from Ei Voor Later
Ei Voor Later (Eggs for Later) picks up just as its director/subject Marieke Schellart is about to celebrate her 36th birthday. She candidly addresses the camera about her growing anxiety as a woman who wants children but hasn't yet found herself in a situation that has produced them. Schellart allows us to tag along with her as she investigates having her eggs medically frozen, granting her options for conception beyond her natural window of opportunity.
A still from Ei Voor Later
Unlike in the U.S., the scientific community of the Netherlands, where Schellart lives, is only beginning to come to grips with the technology and social implications of the procedure. As such, Ei Voor Later becomes just as much involved in discourse around these issues as it is about one woman's journey. The most entertaining moments in the film center around the debate as it occurs in Schellart's own circle of family and friends. Ei Voor Later is a fun and involving take on a subject that might have been dry and impersonal in less capable hands.
A still from Angel for Hire
Mary Flynn and Nina Goodby's Angel for Hire locates its dramatic arc in the story of one woman's fears that her surrogacy contract with an infertile couple may force her to have a cesarean section, due to complications with the pregnancy. The film intercuts its primary tale with the background of Noel Keane, a lawyer who in the mid-70s became a pioneer in surrogacy practice.
A still from Angel for Hire
Keane's story adds a necessary historical layer to the film that enriches the entire piece. And, even though the presentation of Angel's present-day application of Keane's work is impressive, I couldn't help but wish that the film had spent even more time on chronicling the struggles of the past, such as the story of Baby M. As it stands, Angel for Hire shifts from a very good documentary to completely absorbing one each time it delves into the history of its topic.
Angel For Hire (Trailer) from Nina Goodby on Vimeo.
Festival passes can be acquired at this link and tickets for individual screenings can be purchased here.
Ei Voor Later (Eggs for Later) & Angel for Hire will screen together at POWFest on Sat., March 10th at 3pm at the Hollywood Theatre.
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