LITTLE MAN

USA 2005, ca 107 min, englische OV

REGIE
Nicole Conn

DARSTELLER
Nicole Conn, Gwen Baba, Nicholas Baba-Conn, Gabrielle Baba-Conn

Dieser Film lässt keine/n kalt! Nach Herz erwärmenden Geschichten, die das Recht auf schwullesbische Familiengründung untermauerten, stört LITTLE MAN die Harmonie mit Kernfragen: Was heißt Mutterschaft? Ab wann existiert ein Kind? Was ist überhaupt Familie? Seit sich Nicole Conn mit der Lesbenromanze CLAIRE OF THE MOON 1992 einen Namen machte, wurde es stiller um die Filmemacherin. Nun, nach Jahren Familienglück mit ihrer Partnerin Gwen und deren kleiner Tochter Gabrielle wünscht sich Nicole mittels Leihmutterschaft ein "eigenes" Kind und beginnt dies filmisch zu dokumentieren.

Die Schwangerschaft verläuft miserabel: Der kaum ein Pfund schwere Fötus wird nach 25 Wochen per Kaiserschnitt zur Welt gebracht und zum ersten Mal wieder belebt. Die Wunschmutter ist entschieden: Ihr Sohn muss überleben! Nicolas verbringt 5½ Monate auf der Intensivstation, wird künstlich beatmet und ernährt, seine Behandlung kostet Millionen. Als ihre Traumfamilie durch die Belastung praktisch zerstört ist, beginnt Nicole zu reflektieren. Darf die Medizin alles tun, nur weil sie es kann? Am Ende finden Gwen und Nicole wieder zusammen und der fröhliche kleine Nicolas macht seine ersten Schritte. War es unerschütterliche Mutterliebe, die das Kind gerettet oder Egoismus, der ihm solche Qualen zugemutet hat? Fragen, die sicherlich kontrovers zu diskutieren sind. Nicoles erschütterndes Porträt, über einen Zeitraum von zwei Jahren zusammengetragen, geht unter die Haut.

LITTLE MAN explores the core of the human spirit as a family realizes that they are capable of enduring what they never thought possible. Through dedication, love and commitment to the sheer force that is family, the miracle of life extends its hand to all of us. Do we choose to grab on?

“LITTLE MAN unflinchingly documents a family under severe stress and takes us into a world rarely seen: the neo-natal intensive care unit. Interviews with doctors, nurses, friends and especially Gwen are full of pain and awe. Yet the star of the show is Nicolas, who doesn’t even look human upon his arrival, but whose slow progress and bright expression are riveting.” DUBLIN LESBIAN & GAY FILM FESTIVAL

While raising numerous ethical questions, Conn's documentary "Little Man" is an intensely personal tale of surrogate motherhood, difficult choices and the enormous strain special-needs children put on families. Above all, it's a testament to the will to live and how that spirit can be found in even the smallest of packages.

" Little Man" is masterfully edited by Conn, Danny Jacobsen and Sean Present as an edge-of-your-seat, heart-in-your-throat suspense story, balanced with the more prosaic aspects of the circumstances. As immersed as she was as a mother in the daily life-and-death battle, Conn the filmmaker was acutely aware that life itself goes on. She also adroitly used humor ‹ much of it provided by Nicholas' emerging personality ‹ to recover from the film's most intense moments.

The film has a raw and intimate emotional quality reminiscent of Jonathan Caouette's "Tarnation." It will undoubtedly produce vastly different responses from audience members based on their own experiences and beliefs. Whether they agree with the decisions made, "Little Man" is a powerful and challenging documentary that will affect audiences long after they've passed through the lobby. Kevin Crust, LA TIMES

… Little Man also confronts the right-to-life questions at the heart of this human drama with a complexity rarely felt in our nation1s polarizing debate over reproductive freedom. (More slyly, the film neutralizes mainstream stereotypes about gay couples through its matter-of-fact depiction of Conn and Baba1s loving roller coaster of a relationship.)
... Risking everything for a fragile child who may not live to see another day, Conn is exasperating and heroic in equal measure, an altogether riveting portrait of motherly devotion at its most primal. Tim Grierson, LA WEEKLY

Bottom line: "little man" is a deeply personal, often wrenching documentary that raises pertinent and difficult questions about choices made and their potential ramifications… "little man" is a deeply personal, often wrenching documentary that raises pertinent and difficult questions about choices made and their potential ramifications.

Filmmaker Nicole Conn ("Claire of the Moon") turns her camera inward, and the unflinching results can make for tough viewing, but the film, which has been collecting a slew of festival awards, including best documentary feature at Chicago's IndieFest, carries the kind of emotional pull that could put it on the shortlist of this year's docu Oscar contenders.

Being released in select markets by Jour de Fete Films, "little man" demonstrates considerable crossover potential in its ability to universally inspire dialogue and debate. Michael Rechtshaffen, HOLLYWOOED REPORTER

Nicole Conn

LITTLE MAN

USA 2005, Beta SP, ca 107 min, englische OV, Deutsche Premiere

Regie:
Nicole Conn

Darsteller:
Nicole Conn, Gwen Baba, Nicholas Baba-Conn, Gabrielle Baba-Conn

Drehbuch:
Nicole Conn

Produzenten:
Nicole Conn, Danny Jacobsen

Kamera:
Brian Hoven, Joe Van Witsen

Musik:
Mark Chait

Weltvertrieb/Produktion:
Little Man Productions
2301 N. Catalina St., Los Angeles CA 90027
tel: +1 323 660 3139
fax: +1 323 660 3121
email: coco@nicoleconn.com

Awards:
Best Documentary - San Diego Film Festival, Chicago Indiefest, NewFest New York, Outfest Los Angeles, Philadelphia G&L Festival
Best Feature - Miami G&L Festival
Audience Award for Best Documentary - Washington DC Film Festival

Offizielle Internetseite:
www.littlemanthemovie.com