THE SURROGATE
Cert 15 ★★★★ In cinemas now
Race, gender, sexual orientation, disability and abortion are just some of the issues raised in this topical indie drama. But writer-director Jeremy Hersh never lets it get too preachy as excellent performances and sharp dialogue throw us into the centre of a very finely sketched dilemma.
Jess Harris (Jasmine Batchelor) is a directionless 29-year-old Brooklynite who agrees to be a surrogate and egg donor for best friend Josh (Chris Perfetti) and his wealthy husband Aaron (Sullivan Jones).
As Aaron is a lawyer, the trio are convinced they have covered every possible eventuality. The men will raise the child as their own, with Jess taking on the role of a supportive aunt.
Then, 10 weeks into the pregnancy, their plans are thrown into turmoil. A prenatal test reveals the unborn child has Down’s Syndrome.
Josh and Aaron are devastated but bubbly Jess cajoles them into accompanying her to a Down’s support group. While the men seem uncomfortable there, Jess arranges a dinner with Bridget (Brooke Bloom), the exhausted mother of a high-functioning child called Leon.
Bridget seems concerned by Jess’s optimism. She also criticises another mother who gushingly describes her child as her “zen master”, objectifying her son’s disability to make herself appear more interesting.
There’s more sharp dialogue when Jess tells her parents that she is considering having the child on her own and accuses them of fearing she’ll be stigmatised as a black single mother.
But Jess’s motives aren’t entirely selfless. We are reminded of that “zen master” comment when she makes plans to use her unborn child as a springboard for a career as a disability rights campaigner.
It’s Hersh’s refusal to present simple heroes and villains that makes his thoughtful drama so compelling.