Making Grace
Picture: C+
Sound: C+ Extras: C Main Program: C+
Can lesbian couples have children? Sure, if they can find a male donor and Making
Grace (2004) is the more interesting and entertaining than expected tale
about what such a couple does to find who they think would be able to supply
the best possible candidate so they would be able to have the most hopefully
problem-free and healthy child possible.
Though much of the latter part of the program becomes as
predictable as if it were a heterosexual couple having a baby, which might be
the point, that does not stop the Catherine Gund work from tapering off too
quickly. One of the other interesting
aspects is the dual function of the segment where the search for the right man
surfaces. Gund’s camera is focused on
how good looking and interesting the parade of men are or are not. Since we are talking lesbians, is it the
kind of men some women would like to be able to be, is it about the kind of men
gay men would like, is it about how nice and easy (pushover?) some of these men
are or is it a look at a world of people that community could do without except
when they want to become parents?
Intended or not, the film is very ambiguous about this point and it
makes for a sort of confused moment.
At the same time, it is a moment that raises even more
questions about how normal is normal, or if what this couple is doing is right
or wrong. Sure, they are seemingly good
parents and will do a good job of raising their child, but is it that simple? We know if they sued the male donor for
money, they could actually win the case because that is the way courts have
ruled. Is that a threat to gay couples
trying for their idea of the family of the future? This work never addresses it.
Too bad, because they are important issues to consider, but the nearly
90 minutes is more interested in showing the happy family portrait. Is this naïve? You be the judge.
The 1.33 X 1 image was shot on professional analog NTSC
video, digitally stored or not and has the usual color and detail limits,
including some softness throughout. The
Dolby Digital 2.0 is simple stereo at best.
Extras include Grace’s epilogue, the trailer for this and four other
First Run releases, resources, director’s text chatting about the work and text
biography.
- Nicholas Sheffo
