Expecting

Finally! A movie that shows the pregnant female body not as some deformation or taboo subject, but still sexualized and human. This was an amazingly acted film. The actors so embodied the characters that until you visit the website, or hear the director, Deborah Day, speak, you would never know that the film was virtually unscripted and completely improvisational.

The basic plot follows a woman from labour to birth as she gathers family and friends together for a 'birthing party' to witness this joyous event. The dynamics between the characters are what makes it so enthralling that you actually feel a part of this event and the birth of the child. And of course, you can't help but feel genuine affection for poor Ian, the wonderfully supportive boyfriend (portrayed by Tom Melissis).

This is not your traditional Hollywood movie and is better for it. I was lucky enough to catch a screening of this at a festival in Canada, but it needs to come to the states not only to show the beauty of the woman in all their physical transformations- but also that great acting, dynamics, and film making can excite an audience just as much as multi-million dollar FX and does one better by also emotionally connecting you to the characters on screen.