A powerfully emotive German movie about the difficult choice facing a woman when she learns that her unborn child will be born with a serious heart defect.
TV stand up comedian Astrid is delighted to be pregnant. When she and her husband learn that the foetus is showing signs of Downs syndrome they are initially concerned, but soon come to terms with it when they take time to get better informed about the condition. But when they are told the baby will also have a heart problem which will require extensive surgery to correct, and are given a rundown of all the risks involved, the decision becomes more complicated. Does Astrid opt for a late abortion, or give birth to a child who may have a very poor quality of life?
Resolving this dilemma puts pressure on Astrid's relationships with her husband, mother and daughter. And becomes harder when the press get hold of the story and she finds herself having to make her choice with the public looking over her shoulder.
Funny, harrowing, moving, and creating a strong empathy with her audience, Julia Jentsch delivers a superb central performance, recognising there's no such thing as a right or wrong answer, and whatever she decides will be a bit of both. And the way in which the media and public treat 'celebrities' as their property adds an extra dimension. This is a brave take on a difficult subject and a worthwhile, if not always entertaining, watch. Recommended.
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