October Baby – movie review

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I rarely watch movies, and when I do they’re usually edutainment type films about nutrition or something like that.

I was recently reading something – can’t remember what – and it referenced Gianna Jessen, an abortion survivor whose true life story had been turned into a movie. The small bit of information I read triggered my interest and I searched until I found a free online version of the move, called October Baby.

Here it is: October Baby

I enjoyed this movie in a number of ways. As a parent, I appreciated the interpersonal challenges between the parents and their 19 year old daughter whom they had adopted as an infant (as a result of a failed abortion). Parents are always trying to find a balance between appropriate intervention and intrusiveness, being being caring and involved and being overly protective, and this was one interpersonal dynamic in the film that was explored.

The producers managed to portray a very heavy and sensitive topic, that of her prebirth experience and adoption in a balanced way; there was intensity but there was also humor. What I found most fascinating, though, was the personal struggle of the young girl. She was born with a number of health challenges related to the abortion but since she wasn’t told about it, never knew why she had so many issues. She also had a deep self-loathing and feeling that she should be dead, also a result of the abortion. The day before Yirmiyahu was born I wrote a post about cell memory, about how the thoughts and feelings of a mother during pregnancy become part of who the child is. This is seen very dramatically in this situation.

The movie is on the long side, about an hour and forty five minutes, but it was moving, powerful and thought provoking in a number of ways.

If you watch this, please let me know what you think!

Avivah

Comments

8 responses to “October Baby – movie review”

June 2, 2013

Rena

Avivah, this post and your linked post on cell memory are fascinating to me! Especially since so much of my professional work now works at clearing out cell memories, and I use Bach flower essences to facilitate this work. I am presenting at the ACEP (energy psychology) conference tomorrow and will have to make time to watch this movie afterwards! Thanks for guiding me to this resource. After I watch the movie, I would like to share this blog post of yours on my business Facebook page (with your permission, of course!)

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June 2, 2013

Shoshana Z.

A mixed comment. I just finished watching the movie online. Thanks for the link. I really, really liked it and found it deeply moving on so many levels. I was sobbing by the end. As much as I love the movie’s message of, “I forgive you,” I am also a big fan of, “Do not judge others.” Not at all saying that you, Avivah, are doing that. But there are many folks (myself included) who could accurately call this movie a major work of propaganda.

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1. June 2, 2013
  
  Avivah
  
  While I hear your point, Shoshana, the message I took was that of a personal experience being shared, a personal struggle to find oneself, to make sense of one’s life, and to find forgiveness for all the hurt she endured throughout her life, including the rejection of her birth mother when they finally meet, giving her the ability to let go and move on with life.
  
  Did you watch the very end of the movie, in which the actress who played the birth mother shared that she herself had a very similar story (the producers didn’t know this when they asked her to read for the part) and that her reaction portrayed in the movie to the message of forgiveness was her actual reaction, not acting? I found that so moving.
  
  I think that there’s a lot of self-blame we mothers have for so many things we do wrong, or things we perceive ourselves as having done wrong. I know that in real life, Gianna Jessen (who the movie is based on) has helped many women who have had abortions find inner peace after years of shame and self hatred.
  
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June 2, 2013

ozitwins

I wonder if you would be against abortion if one had a pregnancy of 5 ovaries and already had 3 children? I have yet to see the movie.

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1. June 2, 2013
  
  Avivah
  
  Welcome, ozitwins!
  
  Regarding your question – that sounds like a painful and difficult situation to be in, and I don’t presume to say what I would do in a situation I’ve never been faced with. My post isn’t about the decisions of others but sharing a film I enjoyed about the emotional journey of a child who was the result of a failed abortion.
  
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June 2, 2013

Masha

Thank you for sharing the link to this movie. Gianna is such an amazing person, every interaction with her brings joy and confidence.

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June 2, 2013

michelle

Thank you Avivah. We look forward to watching it with our teenagers tonight. It’s important to put a real human face (and heart) on this topic. Will let you know, bli neder, our experience.

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June 3, 2013

Chana

Thank you for sharing, it was a moving film. It was interesting that there weren’t ‘real’ love scenes, reminded me a bit of the standards we keep in our observant circles.

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