Although I hadn't planned it this way (scheduled this film over a year ago without knowing what it was really about), this turned out to be an interesting, if unconventional, Christmas movie. Not in the sense that this was all peace, joy, and goodwill toward men -- which this clearly wasn't. The main theme was about processing grief/loss, and the hope that persists in restoring what was lost. That is the kinship I found with the Christmas story. In both you have a child who, despite all appearances, might be the incarnate answer to the greatest problem faced by someone. In the Bible, Jesus is the way back from alienation from God. In this film, the boy is potentially Nicole Kidman's dead husband come back to life. Maybe I'm stretching, but I honestly don't care. The third act goes off in a different direction, but the thematic parallels, however strained, are there. Anyway, there's my mini homily. The film itself was well-made and had good performances from all. And the ending was something more poignant than I was expecting from the director of Under the Skin. Quite a pleasant surprise overall.
Review of Birth
