Human Embryology - Dramas
The Family Man
Director: John Strickland
Country of origin and year: UK, 2006
Starring: Suzy Aitchison, Pal Aron and Joanna Bacon
Dr. Patrick Stowe runs a private fertility clinic that has recently celebrated its 2000th live birth. However, his home life is less than successful. Driven by work, he seems to care more about his patients than his own family. His wife has left him, and his two teenage children are on the verge of giving up hope that he will ever be a real dad to them. In the world of the fertility, many couples are desperate to have a child. It puts a strain on their relationships and forces many to compromise their beliefs in order to attain their goal. Some will pay any amount and make any sacrifice to have a child.
Internet Movie Database webpage:http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0484801/
My Sister’s Keeper
Director: Nick Cassavettes
Country of origin and year: USA, 2009
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Jason Patric
Two parents have just been informed that their young daughter Kate has leukemia, and that she only has a few years to live. The doctor suggests to the parents that they try for a saviour sibling child, whereby a number of embryos are created through IVF and then selected so a resulting child maybe become a immunological perfect match to an elder sibling. When born (a daughter) the umbilical cord of this saviour child is used initially. As years go on, however, the doctors must take bone marrow from this small girl to attempt to treat Kate. Eventually At age 11, the daughter has had enough of all of these medical procedures, and she decides to sue her parents for medical emancipation and the right to decide how her body will be used. The whole family is being torn apart by the decision because everyone knows what will happen to Kate if she does not get a new kidney.
Internet Movie Database webpage: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1078588/
The Baby Formula
Director: Alison Reid
Country of origin and year: Canada, 2009
Starring: Angela Vint, Megan Fahlenbock and Rosemary Dunsmore
Athena and Lilith are two women in a same-sex relationship. As with most couples, they want to have a baby that is a genuine biological combination of them both. With the help of Jim, a trusted lab technician, they use sperm made from Lilith's stem cells to inseminate Athena and the combination takes. Athena is pregnant with Lilith's child. Lilith is happy to be an expectant mother, but secretly wishes she was the pregnant one. She goes behind Athena's back and convinces Jim from the lab to help her with the same process. At first, this causes some friction in their relationship, but the couple works it out. However, the real trouble starts when their families get involved and the surprises become even greater.
Internet Movie Database webpage: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1259198/
In Vitro
Director: Tom Lloyd
Country of origin and year: UK, 2013
This film tells the story of Rachel, who is in her 60s and who had a high-profile and controversial career as a scientist. She discovered a way to make stem cells differentiate into sperm and egg cells. She decided to use own cells in an experimental attempt to see if these ‘artificial gametes’ could result in a healthy pregnancy. Consequently, she got pregnant and had a child. This caused a huge media storm, and generated concern about the health of her child, who was closely monitored throughout her life.
But when she was in her 30s, her daughter Sofia developed leukaemia and now she has died, at the age of 35. Her body has already been taken away for analysis, and Rachel fears that Lilian, Sofia’s daughter, may in turn come under scrutiny as the authorities try to establish whether artificial gametes caused Sofia’s illness.