Those things we see on the big screen whether it be films or series can have an effect on our minds that goes far beyond its capacity to just remember the fiction we’ve just seen.The power of prose as the vehicle through which messages, stories, and meanings are conveyed and transmitted is incalculable for many people and at the time of forming a family this is by no means any different. Some films and series about fertility and assisted reproduction deal with this subject, perhaps not as the main argument, but as an important element in the plot.
There are so many different family models and ways of looking to form one as there are people. For this reason and even though the recommendations of film or series buffs are always subjective, some film names are practically household, and even more so if it deals with a subject which concerns us all. And in this respect here are some recommendations.
Friends
One of the most famous television series of all times has surrogate pregnancy as one of its main themes during the fourth season. In the series , one of the main characters – Phoebe- offers voluntarily and without reward to bear her brother Frank’s baby as he is unable to have children naturally with his partner, Alice. Surrogate pregnancy a very controversial topic today, is treated naturally in ‘Friends’, some twenty years ago.
We are pregnant
Out of all of the films and series which are available about assisted reproduction, ‘‘We are pregnant’ is one of them which deals with this topic in a more direct way. In this Spanish film starring among others Paco León, a couple are unable to conceive naturally due to different biological factors. With a humorous tone, the film focuses on the couples story, where they turn to an assisted reproduction method to achieve their objective of forming a family.
Maybe Baby
A couple try to start a family, this doesn’t happen and after trying several different methods, opt for a medical specialist. However, what will they think when on arriving at the surgery and seeing that the doctor in question is none other than the eccentric actor who made Mr Bean so famous? In this crazy comedy, of eloquent name ‘Maybe Baby’ science is the least important thing: a hilarious chain of events with a fantastic cast and animated pace make it a thoroughly enjoyable film.
The switch
In ‘‘The switch’ the illustrious Jennifer Aniston plays a woman who at the age of 40 decides to wait no longer and takes control in her quest of forming a family for which she only needs herself….and a pregnancy. Turning to assisted reproduction techniques to successfully become pregnant and after having her baby, the star commences a new episode in her life during which everything changes drastically.
Private Life
An emotive and bittersweet story, full of sentimental moments but also with room for laughs. ‘Private Life’ tells the story of a marriage who wish to start a family but who due to their age are in a race against time. Assisted reproduction becomes the perfect solution in this story full of nuances, highly acclaimed by critics and completely true.
*The image displayed to illustrate this article is used without commercial purposes and is an extract from an episode of Friends, produced by Bright/Krauffman/Crane Productions and by Warner Bros.
