Watch Ovum

Ovum is a dark comedy film released in 2015. At the heart of the movie is the idea of what a woman must do to fulfil the societal expectations of being a mother. Brooklyn-based struggling actress, Calpurnia Dylan, played by Sonja O'Hara, is in her early thirties and running out of time to have a baby. Her biological clock is ticking, and she has a plan to harvest her eggs to keep her options open. Calpurnia, after her gynecologist suggests that she may have difficulties in conceiving, is told that the cost of the procedure is $10,000, which is way beyond her means.

Calpurnia meets with Jasmine, played by Hasaan Johnson, who is going through a divorce and needs a place to stay. He’s also a musician and is struggling to make ends meet, so when Calpurnia suggests that they should shack up together and try to conceive, he hesitates at first, but the financial incentive is too good to resist. They make a deal; she’ll provide the eggs, and he’ll provide the sperm. All they need is the money for the procedure.

Calpurnia agrees to donate her eggs anonymously to a fertility practice in exchange for four thousand dollars. They take the money from the fertility clinic on the promise to supply the eggs later. Still, when Calpurnia's best friend Serenity, portrayed by Katie Morrison, who is trying to set up her own fertility clinic, finds out what has transpired and convinces Calpurnia to collect the eggs herself, things begin to unravel.

From this point on, the movie takes a bizarre and darkly comic turn. Calpurnia's obsession with having a child overshadows everything she does, leading her down a path of destruction. She becomes increasingly manic and unrecognizable. The narrative shifts as we follow her journey as she tries to cope with her obsession while protecting her dreams and ambitions.

The film deals with many themes, including ambition, societal expectations, and morality. The moral dilemma of whether to sell a part of oneself to fund one's dreams is explored in this film. The underlying message of the movie is that women are not merely vessels for childbearing or existing merely to please a patriarchal society, but reproductive autonomy and financial autonomy are intertwined, advocating for a future where women have agency over their bodies and choices.

The dialogue is sharp and witty, with a series of quirky characters from the gynecologist, played by Rutanya Alda, to Calpurnia's eccentric neighbor, who are all part of Calpurnia's journey.

Sonja O'Hara delivers an outstanding performance as the eccentric Calpurnia, capturing her character's complexity and compulsion brilliantly. Hassan Johnson as Jasmine also provides an authentic portrayal of a typical struggling musician, while Katie Morrison as Serenity brings a great sense of humor and sincerity to the ensemble cast. Rutanya Alda is excellent as the blunt and brutally honest gynecologist who delivers most of the film's funniest lines.

The entire film is beautifully shot, with the Brooklyn skyline and its iconic buildings providing stunning backdrops throughout the movie. The use of music is also noteworthy, with a diverse soundtrack that complements the film's tone and adds to its overall character.

In conclusion, Ovum is a subversive, quirky, and entertaining movie that takes a unique approach to a genuinely modern-day issue. The film is of high quality and manages to combine humor with hard-hitting questions about motherhood and societal expectations. Anyone interested in dark comedy, reproductive rights, or the struggles of modern-day women should watch this film.

Ovum is a 2016 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 26 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.4.