Have you noticed a trend in films this past year with an "unwanted pregnancy" theme. I'm thinking of Juno, Waitress, August Rush, Knocked Up. Maybe you can think of a few others. There is a famous story that came out last year...Nativity. That tells the story of Mary and Joseph and the birth of Jesus Christ. Yes that is another story of another "surprise" teen pregnancy. I recently watched Turner Classic Movies channel and Love with the Proper Stranger, starring Natalie Wood and Steve McQueen was on. The plot is of Angie Rossini, an Italian Catholic Macy's salesgirl, who discovers she's pregnant from a fling with Rocky, a musician. Angie finds Rocky (who doesn't remember her at first) to tell him she's pregnant and needs a doctor for an abortion. He finds her a doctor and they work together to raise the money. Rocky doesn't let her go through with the abortion and tries to do the "right thing" and marry her. Angie refuses and gets an apartment on her own and lives a "liberated" life. The movie never goes far into the pregnancy and you are left to discern that Rocky and Angie are really in love and live happily ever after. In 1996 a movie called Citizen Ruth took a satirical look at the pro-life/pro-choice politics by utilizing dark comedy in the debate.
The common theme I continue to find in these movies is that of personal transformation, change, birth of a new self, and discovery of true love. These stories are not just about women experiencing a transformation both physically and emotionally but the men in their lives. Some grow apart, some grow closer.
Pregnancy is a symbol of new growth and creativity among the metaphysical literature. Unwanted or surprise pregnancy reflects the resistance we have to change. We live in a time that is pregnant with change, not unlike the 1960s. Something is a-coming. Just look at our presidential race and the monumental change of having such diverse candidates in serious running. Life is getting loud and the suspense is boiling over. What do you think? Where is God in all this pregnant change? We fight over family values, pro-life/pro-choice, but what is beneath the fight? Is it our values and sacred regard for life? And what of this life? I learned long ago to "let go and let God." It's a wild rollercoaster ride, that sometimes has not track, when you do. Are we ready to give birth to a new age, a new society, a new experience? Change is coming. I have an assignment for school to examine popular movies for deeper themes. As I review the films in this years Academy Awards line up I see old stories retold in a new way. The changes we are feeling and growing into are simply a part of the human experience. I plan to look at more of these human transformation themes in popular culture - films, TV, music, etc. If you have any suggestions for me to explore - please let me know.
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