Future Baby

Future Baby is a thought-provoking and insightful 2016 documentary directed by Maria Arlamovsky. The globalization of the fertility market and the rapid development of reproductive technologies play a significant role in this compelling exploration of our scientific capabilities and ethical responsibilities.

The documentary serves as a mosaic investigating how innovation shapes our lives from the root, beginning even before we are born through assisted reproduction techniques. The story explores and questions whether the inevitable leap in reproductive technologies represents an enhancement of human capabilities or a slippery slope leading towards a dystopian science fiction world.

Based in the present, Future Baby peers into the future of human fertility and reproduction, critically examining both the ethical and moral questions and exhilarating promise associated with cutting-edge reproductive technologies. Cleverly mingling countless interviews with dramatic re-enactments and stylish graphics, the documentary keeps audiences engaged as it asks us to contemplate what it means to be a parent, a child, and a human in an age of rapid scientific advancement.

The movie navigates around different corners of the world, offering a broad spectrum of viewpoints from various stakeholders within the industry, such as inventors of reproductive technologies, doctors, parents, and children conceived through assisted reproductive techniques. This global approach and diverse range of perspectives make Future Baby an accessible and thought-provoking examination of a complex and often controversial subject.

The film begins by investigating the current state of assisted reproduction, including the experiences of couples who have turned to such methods to conceive. It covers a wide range of insights not only into their hopes, dreams, and struggles but also their apprehensions about the future. It then delves into the international fertility industry, providing glimpses into fertility clinics in the US, egg donor agencies in Russia, and the just-beginnings of womb transplants in Sweden. It also incorporates tales from India, where commercial surrogacy thrives, and Spain, where egg donation has become a lucrative business.

As Future Baby unfolds, it investigates current IVF methods, considering practices like genetic testing of embryos before implantation and the associated ethical implications. It features tech enthusiasts who imagine possibilities like creating babies in labs, robot nurseries, artificial wombs, and even humanity's evolution into a species that reproduces asexually. From cyborg feminism to eugenics, Future Baby covers a broad range of perspectives on where reproductive technology might lead us.

The movie does not feed viewers with easy answers but instead encourages them to ponder over these developments, their potential consequences, and ethical questions. It offers a platform for viewers to engage with and discuss the merits and potential pitfalls of such scientific advancements.

Apart from casting light on the current state of assisted reproduction techniques and their future, Future Baby also explores stories of those whose lives have been forever changed by these technologies. We hear from the 'future babies' themselves, now in their teenage years or early adulthood, and their varied reactions to being conceived with the help of reproductive technologies offer some of the most compelling moments in the film.

Unavoidable debates surrounding these issues make their way into the narrative. It considers many ethical dilemmas, like the rights of surrogates, sperm/egg donors, and the rights of those who are conceived through these methods. Touching on controversial subjects like selective breeding for desirable traits and eugenics, the narrative doesn’t shy away from the thorny issues presented by these advancements.

The documentary refuses to pull punches or sit on the fence, asking its audience to consider the full implications of becoming parents through such methods, and what these methods mean for children and society at large.

In conclusion, Future Baby is not just a documentary but a discussion starter, a platform to ponder over the consequences of using technology to intervene with the most basic of human functions - birth. It commands your attention, inviting you to take a seat at the table of this fascinating, complex debate about the future of humanity. With its clear-eyed and robust examination of scientific advances in fertility and reproduction, Future Baby strikes a balance between being a critique of and a tribute to human ingenuity. It is a film that offers a sobering, confronting, and ultimately fascinating look at the not-too-distant future of human reproduction.