Embryo, directed by J. Eliza Wall, follows the development of an embryo across the period of a surrogate pregnancy, showing the preparation of the mother and father as they prepare for the arrival of their daughter Fern. The film shines in its editing style, intercutting short videos from the two with images of fruits and vegetables equal to the size of the baby each week, as well as drawings and paintings of ferns and other plants. The interesting and unique style of editing brings a special charm to the situation, making the audience feel as though they are a part of the journey alongside the couple. As the weeks go on, anticipation builds as they celebrate the embryo’s health and growth over time.
The most prominent feature of Embryo is the way it presents the passage of time and the growth of the embryo. As the weeks go by, the film quickly shows an image of a small fruit or vegetable in relation to how big the embryo is at that point. Starting with beans and berries, quickly turning into apples, pears, and other larger fruits, the film is able to present a very non-traditional way of showcasing baby bump photos, but one that shows the growth of the embryo equally as understandable. As the fruits and vegetables get larger and larger, growing to the size of a pineapple and heads of lettuce, the audiences’ anticipation grows alongside the anticipation of the parents. These images are often intercut with videos of the parents driving by Fern Street as they record a short message for the baby. The film establishes early on that they plan to name the baby Fern, and by recording these messages alongside the timestamps set by the images, the audience is able to be a part of the journey alongside them. Additionally, the film intercuts short videos showing the parents preparing for the arrival of the baby alongside the videos of Fern Street. A few examples include them documenting the embryo’s size, writing to the surrogate, drawing ferns or other plants, or preparing the baby’s room.
While the runtime of the film only sits around 6 minutes, Embryo takes full advantage of the short film format and gives a very detailed look into the lives of these people and the journey they are embarking on. One of the biggest elements of this film that is incredibly prevalent to the audience is the excitement that the two parents have for the arrival of their child. This film depicts a very genuine feeling and gets that point across as the weeks until the baby’s arrival count down. Despite its unique style, the film has a similar feel to a home video, which will let the parents look back on this time of their lives that would inevitably be left behind soon after the baby is born. This warm feeling is an often forgotten reason why some films are made, to capture a memory. Films are products of the times when they are made, and this film in particular captures the memory of their journey with parenthood via surrogacy and the closeness they have with their unborn child. The unique elements presented by this film allow it to be even more special to the family as it is one unique to them.
Embryo – Joy Waldinger (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) Sometimes a couple needs a little magic to start their family. This short film explores the stages of embryo development using non-traditional baby bump photos to celebrate growth and normalize different paths to parenthood! It documents the long and winding journey to parenthood via surrogacy and explores how to maintain a closeness to one’s child while they are in someone else’s uterus. 2024; 6 min.
Embryo screens at the New Jersey Film Festival on Saturday, February 8th alongside other films including Crowboy (Alexander & Cynthia White) and The Storm & The Boats (Jody Small). The film will be available online for 24 hours as well as in-person at 7pm in Voorhees Hall room 105 at Rutgers University (71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick, NJ). Tickets are available for purchase on the festival website here.
The 43rd Bi-Annual New Jersey Film Festival will be taking place on select Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays between January 24-February 21, 2025. The Festival will be a hybrid one as it will be presented online as well as doing in-person screenings at Rutgers University. All the films will be available virtually via Video on Demand for 24 hours on their show date. VoD start times are at 12 Midnight Eastern USA. Each General Admission Ticket or Festival Pass purchased is good for both the virtual and the in-person screenings. Plus, acclaimed singer-songwriter Renee Maskin will be doing an audio-visual concert on Friday, February 21 at 7PM! The in-person screenings and the Renee Maskin concert will be held in Voorhees Hall #105/Rutgers University, 71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick, NJ beginning at 5PM or 7PM on their show date. General Admission Ticket=$15 Per Program; Festival All Access Pass=$120; In-Person Only Student Ticket=$10 Per Program.
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