Lee-107 Review of The Baby Dance

The Baby Dance (1998 TV Movie)

See this movie for the magnificent Laura Dern..

[30 August 1999]

I saw this movie for 2 reasons - I liked the story and it had Laura Dern. I must say I was not left disappointed on either counts. This is a very realistic movie with very true to life characters portrayed by some really good actors. It raises many an issue and creates that feeling of ambivalence towards the characters that is the mark of truly good piece of work. Our sympathies are conflicted between the poor couple who have to give up their baby because they can't afford to raise another one and the wealthy couple who are ready to adopt it but who have to think of the longterm repercussions of adopting a child who may be mentally retarded. The end is one that elevates all the issues raised in this movie to a final climactic pathos. The movie scores because of its realism, both social and marital. Laura Dern's character is absolutely heartrending as the poor over-burdened but not pitiful Wanda. Our heart goes out to this woman who in all her grief is still an admirable person. Laura Dern has portrayed this character with so much sensitivity, add to that her natural acting genius, she is truly magnificent. Stockard Channing does full justice to her character too, making us feel sorry for her for letting her be ruled by her husband's decisions and the cruel outcome of a proposition that was supposed to fill the void in her life. Peter Riegert does well as the typical practical Richard who has to do his job and see if end product is the one that fulfills their desires. Richard evokes both, a sense of pity and disgust. Richard Lineback as Wanda's husband portrays his character very well. This is a thought-provoking film, directed excellently by Jane Anderson that sees childbirth from a very realistic and contemporary point of view. Recommended.