Obvious Child (2014)

A twenty-something comedienne's unplanned pregnancy forces her to confront the realities of independent womanhood for the first time.

Director:

Gillian Robespierre

Writers:

Gillian Robespierre (screenplay by), Karen Maine (story)

Stars:

Jenny Slate, Jake Lacy, Gaby Hoffmann

10 wins & 29 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jenny Slate	...	Donna Stern
Paul Briganti	...	Ryan
Gaby Hoffmann	...	Nellie
Stephen Singer	...	Gene
Richard Kind	...	Jacob
Polly Draper	...	Nancy Stern
Gabe Liedman	...	Joey
Jake Lacy	...	Max
Cindy Cheung	...	Dr. Bernard
Ernest Mingione	...	Waiter
Cyrus McQueen	...	Stand-Up
David Cross	...	Sam
Maciek Jasik	...	Cabbie
Jennifer Kim	...	Female
Suzanne Lenz	...	Female #2

Storyline

For aspiring comedian Donna Stern, everyday life as a female twenty-something provides ample material for her relatable brand of humor. On stage, Donna is unapologetically herself, joking about topics as intimate as her sex life and as crude as her day-old underwear. But when Donna winds up unexpectedly pregnant after a one-night stand, she is forced to face the uncomfortable realities of independent womanhood for the first time. Donna's drunken hookup - and epic lapse in prophylactic judgment - turns out to be the beginning of an unplanned journey of self-discovery and empowerment.

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Plot Keywords:

abortion | pregnancy | f rated | divorced parents | feminist film | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and sexual content

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official Twitter

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 August 2014 (UK)

Also Known As:

Entre Risos e Lágrimas

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$77,315, 8 June 2014, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$3,122,616, 3 October 2014

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rooks Nest Entertainment,Sundial Pictures,Votiv Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The title comes from the eponymous Paul Simon song, which was the first track from Simon's 1990 album The Rhythm of the Saints.

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Quotes

Donna Stern: I did the first scream for screaming, and then the second scream I had from scaring myself from the first scream.

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Connections

References Gone with the Wind (1939)

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Soundtracks

Single Girl
Performed by The Kossoy Sisters

User Reviews

A genuine and authentic look at womanhood, featuring a truly star-making lead performance.

Over the years, the film industry has churned out plenty of comedies about the perils of dealing with unexpected pregnancy, but never has the subject been approached from such a refreshingly different point of view than in Gillian Robespierre's Obvious Child.

Donna (Jenny Slate) is an aspiring stand-up comedian whose relationship with her long-term boyfriend has just come to a screeching halt, courtesy of his philandering. Angry and despondent, Donna unleashes her frustration onstage, crashing and burning in front of the audience before finding solace in genuine nice guy Max (Jake Lacy), with whom she shares a few drinks - and a bed.

When Donna discovers a few weeks later that she's pregnant, her life is thrown into upheaval. A child certainly isn't on her list of desired acquisitions, and after evaluating her options with best friend Nellie (Gaby Hoffmann), she elects to have an abortion. There's just one problem: Max, the one-night stand who also happens to be the sweetest, most courteous person Donna has ever met, and is obviously interested in more than just a casual fling.

Obvious Child differs from other pregnancy rom-coms by approaching a uniquely feminine issue from a decidedly feminine point of view. This is Donna's story, and while the film is most definitely a comedy, it treats the subject matter with respect and dignity. It's also a standout performance from Slate, who runs the full gamut of the emotional spectrum, gleefully reveling in Donna's raunchy stand-up act one moment, and losing herself in a tearjerking scene between Donna and her overbearing (but not unloving) mother in the next.

Obvious Child will likely bear the unfortunate distinction of being known as "the abortion movie," but to oversimplify the film and marginalize it in such a manner is a huge disservice. Yes, it deals with abortion, but more importantly, it deals with womanhood in a way that few films have ever dared. It's an authentic, emotional, and yes, hilarious portrait of a young woman trying to find her way, and should be considered a landmark achievement in feminist filmmaking.

-- Brent Hankins