In the futuristic world of "Becoming Male in the Middle Age" the advances of science and progress are interesting yet faulty or seen as problematic by some.
There'll be meat without animals being slaughtered yet some won't find it so interesting or just think it's not like the real thing. And like seahorses, men will
have the experience of carrying the baby inside them, though not necessarily in the typical full manner since surrogate mothers are also part of the experience.
The latter part
is the challenge faced by a male gay couple were one of the parts desperatly wants to have a baby of his own so he commits himself into several expensive trials
in order to have his kid. On the other side we have a heterosexual couple friend of theirs who also want a kid for themselves but a fertility problem comes their
way, along with some jealousy that the other couple, least likely to have a baby of their own, is finally close to their dream. Yet one part of both couples are
not necessarily enthusiastic about becoming parents themselves, only being part of the action in order to satisfy the other, or just don't disappoint since they
love each other.
With its mix of sci-fi and drama, the short challenges the notions of masculinity, what it truly means to be a man and their roles in society whether the
ones expected of them, the ones they end up assuming wanting or not. Given its title comes the thought that man was only considered as such if bringing a child
to the world and fathering as much as he could, specially if we consider royalty and their notions of leaving as many heirs as possible to assume a destined
throne. Cut to ages later where much has changed, sexual variations and fluidity and even men who are very resolute in not becoming fathers themselves, that old
notion is only something from the past that can't even be considered mandatory unless for those desperatly in keeping their own lineage and blood through different
times, the preservation of species.
And don't think that there are easy or simple solutions when it comes to this quartet because they want what they want and for reasons, and it must be in the
way they want. Until a resolution comes along there'll be lots of inner conflicts and some sadness in between. Guess the future isn't so bright despite the scientic
progress. And speaking of those, I'd really like the film would be a little expanded about the meat issue. That was fascinating to see, to think about it but the
only resolve that came later on is that the guinea pig trying it was a vegan. It's obvious that he'd get some reaction with it.
A relatively fine presentation of situations and possibilities, but its discussion could have use of a prolongued development. It raises a lot of important
questions and it's a quite interesting film if you have someone to debate about it afterwards. 6/10.
