Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Miscarriage and the Movies Part 2

Awhile back I wrote a post calling out some of the top movies, TV shows, and books that proliferate the same old misconceptions about miscarriage as fact. Imagine my surprise when the topic of miscarriage came up in two recent movies in a sensitive and real way.

1. The Help. I originally took issue with the portrayal of Celia Foot, who suffers multiple miscarriages and is the outsider among the white, bridge-playing ladies of Jackson, Mississippi. In the book she seemed too stupid and slutty and socially inept. In the movie version however, she came across as honest and kindhearted; a real person in the midst of all the Stepford Wives. The scene with Celia in the bathroom and Minnie comforting her was heartbreaking and sensitively drawn.

2. Young Adult. If you haven't seen this movie, stop reading because I'm about to ruin it for you. This was definitely a strange movie. You'll dislike the crazy alcoholic main character and assume she's a home wrecker and baby hater for much of the movie. As she chases down her high school sweetheart, who is recently married with a baby, you wonder... where the heck is the movie going? Then she has a complete breakdown on the lawn of his house in front of his wife and friends and family members, revealing why she is so upset. She and him were going to get married. They were going to have a baby. Then she miscarried at 12 weeks. She's definitely a major hot mess in this movie, but I liked the reveal of the miscarriage as why she lost it in her hometown.

BONUS: Jay-Z wrote a song for he and Beyonce's new daughter who was born this weekend. In the song he mentions their previous miscarriage being so tragic. I feel for them and am glad that they are letting the world know. Do you think miscarriage is losing some of its stigma?