Babies - A Review

Last night, I went to see the new Babies documentary by French film-maker Thomas Balmes. The film traces the first year in the life of four babies from opposite corners of the globe: San Franciso, Tokyo, rural Mongolia and Namibia.

To say that the theater was filled with cooing and "oooh's" and "aaah's" (many from this very writer) would be an understatement. The film is literally about 80 minutes of pull on your heartstrings imagery, reducing anyone with a heart to a pile of mush. From the first hint of a smile on a baby's face to the triumphant grin as he stands upright by himself for the very first time, it's an interesting glimpse into the remarkable development that occurs during that important first year.

Some of the film's images are very familiar and comfortable. The American baby, Hattie, bouncing joyously like a mini ballerina in her swing. The large group of Moms and babies in a circle in Tokyo clapping and singing. But others...not so much. Like the Mongolian baby, Bayar, climbing naked on a rusty oil can as a herd of cattle approach. My friend kept saying "ouch" as I covered my eyes and cringed in fear that the child was going to give himself a circumcision.

What surprised me about the film was that it was very much like watching a wildlife show with no narration. There's no dialogue, except for the little bits and pieces I was able to pick up from the American family. You definitely get the gyst of what's happening, but I often wished that there was some familiar Oprah sounding voice telling me what exactly was going on, exactly how old that kid is now, and why the woman in Africa used a corn cob to wipe her kid's ass. I'm not judging - I just needed some context!

But, never-mind the different child-rearing methods depicted in the film. I did walk away with this sense of calm and community. As an expectant Mom who can be overwhelmed by the information in pregnancy books and the internet (I spent over four hours researching cloth diapering online the other day), it's nice to see that women in the most "advanced" societies are having healthy babies at the same time as women in the most remote village of Africa. And they all survived. The babies were all fine. And so were the Moms. Even without an epidural or, for that matter, a bed. We've been doing this for millions of years - sometimes nature really does just have a way of taking charge.

So, yes. Babies is a fun film to see. But it might be better in your own native habitat. Definitely see it - but wait for the DVD.