This is an 7-minute (plus 1 minute credits) short film from 15 years ago based on a story by Roald Dahl. This was adapted by two screenwriters and one of them is Jonathan Liebesman, who directed a couple Holylwood blockbusters in the not too distant past, including, most recently, "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles". We see two women at a very poor hospital struggling with their health and it seems as if both are about to give birth. The focus then switches to really only one of the two and we find out she has lost a couple babies after her last pregnancies. Will she and her baby be fine this time? I have to say I did not really felt much emotion watching this, not as much as I hoped I would. I was not cheering for the woman to be honest. Anyway, there is a final plot twist which really makes this movie and also explains the title. I am not sure if it is accurate in terms of his mother having had the struggles with previous pregnancies, but that's not really the point I think. After all, it's movie making and there is always fiction in films. After all, this is not credited as a documentary. Mediocre film, but the final twist makes it worth the wait. Recommended.
4 Reviews
Hair prickling wonderful short
michaelsgrant13 October 2002
Warning: Spoilers
I saw this short film when it played at the Hollywood film festival. Appropriately enough it played before a packed house and was the preface for the Marlene Dietrich biography.
The thought of the film still sends a shiver up my arms, and it has the same effect on the people I have described it too.
Wonderful simplistic concept. Like Hitchcock's "Rear Window" which made the audience a voyeur and then made the audience guilty for their pleasure, this film makes you feel sympathy for the protaginist mother and child, and then sends a cold chill down your back when you realize the result of the off sprint. You should see this film as I did, with no concept of the end. It's a bit like knowing the end of "Psycho" and then only appreciating the work, not feeling the effect.
I hope this isn't the last of the film makers we hear. This is the type of fresh talent we in Hollywood need.
The film should be chosen to be a preface for an appropriate big budget film. I won't say what type of film because it would give the story awasy. If you've seen it, you know exactly what I am talking about.
SPOILER - for your sake, do not read this if you haven't seen the film, or it will ruin you enjoyment:
When the lights dimmed after the film, there was a good 1/2 a minute of silence, then a thunderous applause. This came in Hollywood, where a large contingent of the audience was Jewish, and could of all people appreciate the true heart rendering blow of the film.
Well done!
The thought of the film still sends a shiver up my arms, and it has the same effect on the people I have described it too.
Wonderful simplistic concept. Like Hitchcock's "Rear Window" which made the audience a voyeur and then made the audience guilty for their pleasure, this film makes you feel sympathy for the protaginist mother and child, and then sends a cold chill down your back when you realize the result of the off sprint. You should see this film as I did, with no concept of the end. It's a bit like knowing the end of "Psycho" and then only appreciating the work, not feeling the effect.
I hope this isn't the last of the film makers we hear. This is the type of fresh talent we in Hollywood need.
The film should be chosen to be a preface for an appropriate big budget film. I won't say what type of film because it would give the story awasy. If you've seen it, you know exactly what I am talking about.
SPOILER - for your sake, do not read this if you haven't seen the film, or it will ruin you enjoyment:
When the lights dimmed after the film, there was a good 1/2 a minute of silence, then a thunderous applause. This came in Hollywood, where a large contingent of the audience was Jewish, and could of all people appreciate the true heart rendering blow of the film.
Well done!
A masterpiece of the short film genre.
alfmuse6 February 2001
"Genesis and Catastrophe" should be required viewing for all short filmmakers. With a perfect three act structure, pristine direction, eagle-eye cinematography, flawless editing, stellar performances, superb art direction, and dazzling producing, it is a masterpiece of the short film genre.
Incredibly well done short film ...
j_e_bryant2 October 2006
Saw this years ago at the Austin Film Festival and never forgot it. It was amazingly well crafted film. With a great, knock-your-socks off ending.
The photography in this film is so gritty and real . . . the direction/acting is superb. Could have very easily turned out to be something very cheesy. But, it's handled deftly. If you ever get a chance to see this film, I'd recommend it highly.
I don't really have much more to say about the picture. After all it is a short film. But, IMDb requires a minimum of 10 lines in the commentary for some reason, which is really annoying, so at this point I'm just trying to fill up space.
The photography in this film is so gritty and real . . . the direction/acting is superb. Could have very easily turned out to be something very cheesy. But, it's handled deftly. If you ever get a chance to see this film, I'd recommend it highly.
I don't really have much more to say about the picture. After all it is a short film. But, IMDb requires a minimum of 10 lines in the commentary for some reason, which is really annoying, so at this point I'm just trying to fill up space.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
