The Surrogate

The Surrogate is a powerful, independent drama film that delves deep into the complex world of surrogacy, and the ethical dilemmas that can emerge within it. Released in 2020, it boldly and empathetically tackles subjects of friendships, family ties, struggle of parenthood, and deliberations concerning a child's life. Directed by Jeremy Hersh, and skilfully led by a talented cast including Jasmine Batchelor, Chris Perfetti, and Sullivan Jones, this movie offers a rare, intimate glimpse into the intricacies of modern parenthood and surrogacy.

Jasmine Batchelor, in a deeply moving performance, plays Jess, a spirited web designer who volunteers to be the gestational surrogate for her best friend Josh, played by Chris Perfetti, and his husband Aaron, portrayed by Sullivan Jones. Challenging the typical Hollywood portrayals of surrogacy, The Surrogate offers a strikingly realistic and grounded take on the situation. Josh, Aaron, and Jess are idealistic, urban millenials, acting on their well-intentioned desire to build a heartfelt and modern family structure.

Things take a turn when a prenatal test reveals something unexpected about the baby she's carrying. Herein lies the real strength of the story - the choice to tackle controversial and emotionally fraught territory head on. The once straightforward surrogacy journey is now pulled into various complex dimensions as the trio grapples with unexpected challenges associated with the pregnancy. It’s an ethical quandary that not only puts their relationship to the test but forces them to confront their own belief systems, their notions of parenthood, and the societal inflections on a child’s quality of life.

These difficult negotiations are where Jasmine Batchelor truly shines. As Jess, Batchelor brings an exceptional blend of emotional depth and intuitive strength, showcasing a woman who is determined to make the right decision, even if she’s unsure what “right” truly means in such a complex situation. Her palpable camaraderie with Perfetti’s Josh and Jones’s Aaron adds another dimension to their intertwined relationship and deepens the emotional undertones of the journey they are all eminently a part of.

On the other hand, Chris Perfetti as Josh impeccably expresses his character's range of feelings, ranging from joy and hope to desperation and uncertainty. Sullivan Jones, playing Aaron, delivers impressive acting chops portraying a character that is well-meaning yet gets stuck in the thick quagmire of moral ambiguity.

Jeremy Hersh’s direction distinguishes the film, intertwining the personal and the political without losing sight of the humanity at the heart of the story. Using delicate yet sharp touches of realism in his storytelling, Hersh expertly explores one of the most ethically charged subjects in contemporary society – surrogacy. His perspective in no way trivializes the emotional weight of the story, instead, it adds a layer of depth that keeps the audience engaged and provoked.

The Surrogate effectively explores the theme of friendship in the modern age. It ponders upon the negotiations around growing up and growing apart, the meaning and cost of selflessness, and how far one may go to help their friends, crossing the line of surrogate and friend. Hersh’s analysis of the emotional, social, and ethical implications of surrogacy, not just for the biological parents but for the surrogate herself, takes the film beyond being simply another emotional drama.

The Surrogate is, at its heart, a human story that explores the nuanced complexities of surrogacy with a mature touch. Its beautifully layered screenplay plunges into the social, emotional, and ethical implications of surrogacy and disability. The film doesn’t offer definitive answers, but rather presents the audience with the complex realities that surround the life-altering decision to bring a child into the world.

The Surrogate is sober, somber, and impactful; it's a movie that will move you and make you question societal norms and expectations. It masterfully within its duration, illustrates an unforgettable journey whose echoes will remain with the audience long after the credits roll. Here's a film that bravely navigates societal norms, pushes boundaries, and invites discussions that cinema often shies away from. It’s a captivating, thought-provoking, and altogether a unique slice-of-life story.