A gay couple asks one of their best friends to carry a baby for them, but complications get in the way, in the new film ‘The Surrogate.’
Josh (Chris Perfetti) has been best friends with Jess (Jasmine Batchelor) for the longest time, they are more like brother and sister. When Josh and his husband Aaron (Sullivan Jones) decide they want a baby they naturally ask Jess to carry it. She is thrilled to be asked and says yes right away, but when early tests show that the baby will be born with health complications it raises questions and concerns that all three of them didn’t expect. It also pits her against the men as they want one thing and she wants another. This is all set against the backdrop of trying to accept and learn more about the condition and also coming to the realization that there is a way out.
’The Surrogate’ is a sensitive insight into the complex issues surrounding surrogacy. Directed and written by Jeremy Hersh, who does a very good job turning a joyous life event into a tension and dramatic-filled film, ’The Surrogate’ has received wide critical acclaim at numerous film festivals around the world, including SXSW 2020, São Paulo International Film Festival, and Gotham Film Festival. The cast are all perfect, but it’s Batchelor’s movie. She is simply amazing as the young woman who must decide what is best for her. Batchelor was nominated for a Breakthrough Actor award at the IFP Gotham Awards.
’The Surrogate’ is now in UK cinemas.
Review by Tim Baros