This richly earnest drama follows Geneviève, a surrogate who must reckon with her ambivalence about the pregnancy and her precarious feelings for the parents-to-be.

Interview with Writer/Director Charlie Birns

Watch Human Affairs on Prime Video and Vudu

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

Initially, to satisfy the nagging voice in my head telling me to do so. But really, to offer something to the world born of and revealing the possibility of transformation.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

Well, if you're already in the audience you might as well watch. Otherwise, consider watching if you're seeking a film that calls forth questions and arouses perhaps more subtle emotions associated with our human condition. Surrogacy is emotional and complicated.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

Themes of seeking connection, pursuing truth, creating family, and finding meaning in life are the bedrock of the film.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?

When I started collaborating with my editor, David Barker, he told me a film must go through three paradigm shifts before it's complete. I scoffed at this absurdity. Now I can tell you, from rough cut to final cut, the protagonist has changed from a male to a female character, the timeframe of the film has expanded from three days to sixty years, and the overall atmosphere has evolved from anger to compassion.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I was particularly grateful for Christopher Bourne's review (ScreenAnarchy.com) which called the film "an intimate drama with panoramic, cosmic scope."

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

Somehow I can get down with the positive feedback as well as the negative. I agree with those who call the film a stunning work of art as much as I agree with those who call it completely worthless and banal. These are points of view I have held throughout the process (as any filmmaker can relate) so they are familiar to me.

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

You sent me a nice message on Facebook and, given that your site encourages more than 50% women participation, it was an opportunity for me to be squarely in the minority.

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

After our World Premiere at Slamdance in January, we would love to continue screening the film anywhere in the world and especially in Australia.

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?

It would be nice if the film could touch a few people and perhaps allow for the possibility of a little more ease in our closest relationships.

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

Will defer to Don Simpson who raised a few surrogacy-related questions in his thoughtful review for Hammer to Nail: "Can surrogacy be used as an exploitation and/or commodification of women? Is it a basic human right to be able to make contracts regarding one’s own body? What does motherhood mean?"

Interview: February 2018

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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTIAQ+, scifi, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela

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Human Affairs

This richly earnest drama follows Geneviève, a surrogate who must reckon with her ambivalence about the pregnancy and her precarious feelings for the parents-to-be.

Length: 78 Minutes

Director: Charlie Birns

Producer: Krista Parris, Brendan McHugh, Charlie Birns

Writer: Charlie Birns

Key cast: Julie Sokolowski, Kerry Condon, Dominic Fumusa, David Harbour

Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): Film Festivals, Programmers

Other: human-affairs.com