Movie Review: Babies

Babies

Honestly, its hard to know just what to say about 'Babies,' a movie that chronicles the first year in the lives of four geographically far flung infants. Well the most common sound coming from my mouth when watching this movie was "awwwww," there were also a few "ewwww" moments, accompanied by the occasional gasp of concern. This movie offers no analysis of childhood or parenting, and contains no voice over explanations. Babies is exactly what the title promises. It's babies. Anyone who loves babies will find this movie nearly impossible to resist - and I mean, who doesn't love babies? 

Although this movie is slightly reminiscent of some what nauseating home videos (yeah, we've all been there - the proud parents force you to sit through hours on end of videos of their little pumpkin eating a banana or taking their first steps. One can only take so much.), it provides the viewer with something more. Hattie, Mari, Bayarjargal and Ponijao show themselves to be natural born comedians, instinctive creatures and hard workers - each in his or her own special way. Their distinctive personalities blossom from the beginning, and, just as quickly, the viewer is exposed to the various cultural distinctives that exist in child raising from country to country. In the metropolises of developed lands, Mari (Japan) and Hattie (California) are part of a structured world, surrounded by cellphones and computers, organized group activities and 'mommy and me yoga, while Bayarjargal (Mongolia) and Ponijao (Africa) are more accustomed to roaming freely in the sand and making toys of rocks and sticks.  However, one thing draws a common tie between all four babies - each deals with the aggression and affection of siblings, the way of animals and the recognition and communication of basic emotions. 

The lesson is simple: although these babies may be small and some what helpless at times, they grow, they learn, and they end up restoring faith in our perplexing, peculiar and stubborn - yet lovable - species. 

But hey, who needs heavy analysis when all you need is a cute fix. Look at those adorable faces.