Birthmarked

Birthmarked is an independent comedy-drama that was released in 2018. Filled with quirky characters and intriguing plot lines, this film boasts an impressive star cast. The film was directed by Emanuel Hoss-Desmarais, a critically acclaimed Canadian director known for his deft craftsmanship.

In the heart of Birthmarked is a couple, Catherine and Ben, played adeptly by Toni Collette and Matthew Goode respectively. They are both esteemed scientists specializing in genetics, showcasing a zeal for field research and guided by their thirst for knowledge. As they reshape the world with their ground-breaking experiments, the couple comes to a radical decision that affects their personal life, intending to prove that nurture triumphs over nature.

Set in 1977, Catherine and Ben’s grand experiment revolves around their own soon-to-be family. They plan to raise their children against their genetic predispositions. The eldest child, Maurice, is adopted from two unintelligent parents with the intention of making him an intellectual. Their daughter, Maya, is hoped to defy her lineage of emotionally unstable women by nurturers intending to bring her up as a joyful, emotional child. Finally, their biological child, Luke, is to be raised against Goode’s own family lineage of great scientists; they want him to grow up as an artist.

As their experiment begins to take shape, the film delves into the complex trials and hilarity of the couple attempting to stand by their scientific convictions. They are further put to the test when they attract the patronage of a rather dubious university that provides them funding. Things get even more complicated as their parental instincts come in direct conflict with their scientific views resulting in a rollercoaster journey of love, comedy, and paradoxical dilemmas.

The narrative arcs of Matthew Goode and Toni Collette stand out in the film, with their performances illuminating the characters' emotional depth. Collette's portrayal of Catherine is masterful, swinging between scientific rigidity and the softer emotions of a mother with ease. Goode's Ben is equally compelling; a man driven by his ambition to contribute something meaningful to science, yet torn by his paternal instincts.

The intensely fascinating personality of birth-giving to such a daring experiment brings a lot of life to the film, making the viewers question the nature versus nurture debate. Andreas Apergis also renders a memorable performance, further enhancing the film's comedy quotient and adding to the overall ensemble's brilliance.

But Birthmarked is more than just a dry study of scientific theories of geneticists. It also funnily investigates human interactions, desires, failures, and especially parenthood. It is a daring exploration of human nature, relationships, and an examination of the expectations and realities of parenthood itself.

Emanuel Hoss-Desmarais’ strong direction is evident throughout the film, bringing a fresh perspective to a relatively unaddressed subject of parenthood. The expertly woven narrative pushes the viewers to evaluate the true extent of scientific intervention in human nature, especially when it comes to tinkering with the most natural process - bringing up a child.

The intriguing premise combined with excellent performances from the star cast make Birthmarked a must-watch for those who enjoy intelligent, thought-provoking cinematic experiences.

The movie carries you along through the highs and lows of the family's journey, and ultimately leaves you pondering about the power of nature versus nurture, the ethics and impacts of such experiments, and the importance of love and individual identity above all.

Birthmarked is more than just a comedy-drama. It lays bare the intricacies of human nature, relationships, and, most importantly, parenthood, and leaves you with important questions to think about.