Film Comment: October Baby

Really powerful movies are rarely about what they seem to be on the surface.  October Baby (2012) is one of those films.  You absolutely MUST see this film if you possibly can.

A distressingly large number of “Christian” films suffer from weak writing, amateurish acting, poor pacing, and an obvious dependence on one primary set.  You will find none of that in October Baby.

Hannah Lawson (actress Rachel Hendrix) is a freshman in college who suddenly discovers that her entire life is “a lie.”  She learns that she was adopted and that her birth was as the result of a failed abortion.  As the film progresses, Hannah learns even more secrets about her parents, a nurse, a male friend, and her birth mother.

Abortion is the catalyst for the events in the film, but, while the film is clearly pro-life (The tagline is “Every life is beautiful.”), what the film is actually about is the redeeming power of forgiveness.   Hannah, a Baptist, learns from a Roman Catholic priest that because God has forgiven us, we have the power to forgive.

Watch during the credits for a shocking revelation about the actress, Shari Rigby, who portrayed the birth mother.  God works in individual lives in ways we could never have anticipated.

Again, as a Christian, you absolutely MUST see this film.  If you read the film chat rooms you will find equal numbers of people who were absolutely amazed by the film and others, who clearly do not understand, and who post snarky sarcastic comments.  The New York Times film critic, Jeannette Catsoulis, says that the film has "ugliness at its core," while Penny Young Nance, the Chief Executive Officer of Concerned Women for America says that it should be called "Hallelujah Baby."