Alison's Choice

In the 2015 film, 'Alison's Choice', director and screenwriter Bruce Marchiano combines deep, emotional themes, arresting performances, and a uniquely sensitive handling of what can be regarded as divisiveness and volatility of the pro-life vs pro-choice debate. The film stars Chanel Marriott as Alison, Bruce Marchiano as The Janitor, and Alicia Monet Caldwell, among others.

'Alison's Choice' revolves around the protagonist, Alison Conner, a teenage girl facing the difficult and life-changing decision about continuing her unwanted pregnancy or having an abortion. This personal crisis finds her sitting in the lobby of a family planning clinic, struggling to decide her next steps. At this vulnerable and confusing moment in her life, she has an extraordinary encounter that elevates the narrative from a simple everyday human drama to a spiritual parable.

As Alison sits in the waiting area, she meets Bruce Marchiano's Janitor. The Janitor is a humble, seemingly ordinary character, yet gently discloses that he's not just a mere mortal; he proclaims himself to be Jesus Christ. This plays out in a profound and thought-provoking dialogue between the teenager and Jesus himself, which forms the central conflict and drive of the narrative.

Marchiano not only provides an emotive performance as Jesus, but also christens his directorial debut for the film. His depiction of Jesus Christ breaks away from the traditional, generating a figure that's accessible, funny, and deeply compassionate. This portrayal embodies a god who really cares about human struggles and pain, engaging Alison in a conversation about her life, revealing her deepest fears and aspirations.

Chanel Marriott compels viewers with her portrayal of Alison, skillfully drawing the audience into her pain, turmoil, and the depth of her predicament. She is a young woman, dealing not only with her current dilemma but with turmoil stemming from a broken home and an uncaring boyfriend. Alison feels alone, scared, and burdened by the weight of the world.

Alicia Monet Caldwell is brilliant in her supporting role as Alison's mother. She lamentably fails to comprehend and empathize with her daughter's predicament, being more concerned with her own matters. She offers Alison no solace or support but rather adds to the compound of issues the young teenager must untangle.

The cinematography of 'Alison's Choice' garners special attention. The use of color, light, and shade creates an atmosphere of isolation and apprehension contrasted against the warmth of human connection during Alison's conversation with Jesus.

Scripting conversations between a regular teenager and the Son of God without slipping into banality or melodrama is no easy task, but the film manages to do this with grace and sincerity. 'Alison's Choice' isn't simply about making a case for pro-life or pro-choice, it's more than that. It explores themes of human frailty and redemption, compassion, divine involvement in human affairs, and the consequences of life's choices.

Moreover, while the setting of the film might seem static, taking place almost entirely in a family planning clinic's waiting room, it works effectively to intensify the feelings of apprehension and loneliness that Alison is grappling with while also focusing on the emotional interplay between her and The Janitor.

The other characters, each coming and going in the background, serve to provide additional complexity to Alison's predicament. Each character has their own story, which, although mostly left untold, suggest their unique struggles and questions.

The movie leans towards a spiritual perspective, and the supernatural element is definitely integral to the story, but this isn't used to proselytize. Instead, it provides a backdrop to stage the psychological and emotional struggles of a young woman faced with a life-altering decision.

Hence, 'Alison's Choice' is a powerful drama that explores much more profound themes, using a controversial and emotional topic as its starting point to explore so much more about the human condition and divine compassion. The film doesn't offer easy answers, nor does it shy away from considering the discomforting realities of being a young woman in a precarious situation. It ultimately leaves its viewers with thought-provoking questions about life, spirituality, forgiveness, and inner healing.