My Life is a Movie

No. Seriously, it is. Its called Motherhood. It has Uma Thurman, Minnie Driver, and Dr. Green in it.

Its not exactly my life because I don't have two apartments, a dog, a car, I'm not nice to my neighbors, and I don't go shopping with my newly-single-pregnant friend (this scene is why I can't tell my mother to see the movie).

But other than that, IT IS MY LIFE. I got to go see it at Columbia with my co-film-wife/mother (her husband suggested it). The writer/director did a question and answer afterward, she teaches full-time at Columbia, and we got to see it the day before it was released. In the opening credits it became extremely obvious H and I were the only mothers in the room. Non-mothers just didn't get the joke.

I liked it because now I have an easy way to explain my life, "Go watch Motherhood with Uma... I'm Uma, except I don't look good in my nightgown." It was REAL, it was so real. 6th floor walk-up, tiny living space, too much to do, having to do the too much in the hardest way imaginable, crazy ladies at the park, New Jersey, husband who tries but misses important things, wonderful sweet children who never cry or scream or hit or yell or throw everything in the tiny living space on the floor. (Oh, I have children that do those things.) I could go on and on, watch the movie if you want to know everything.

I liked it because I totally understood the conflict. I've never tried to enter a contest with a same-day deadline to get me writing for reals again, just my slice-of-life blog that really doesn't make me feel like a writer.

I felt bad for it because it was obviously low budget. There are a few scenes where the boom is on clear display. Turns out it was a 25 day shooting schedule, and Uma believed in the story so much that she gave back her payment so they could have a few extra days of shooting. (Doesn't that make you want to be friends with Uma?)

I didn't like it because it was so REAL. So. Real. The climax conversation between the husband and wife was too realistic to be in a movie. She has a hard time explaining what is really wrong, he doesn't even try to listen to her stumbling and insists that he's made sacrifices too. She finally says what she wants to say (kind of) and he responds with that unanswerable question "what life would you want?"

I didn't like it because it was so REAL. So. Real. When I told Justin that it was him I hurt his feelings because the reviews don't explain him well. He tries as hard as he can. He comes home to take care of the three year old so the mom can run errands. He does things to help. He obviously loves his family. He is kind, even when frustrated. He just doesn't see it all. He desperately wants his wife to reach her potential, but doesn't now how to help her do that.

I liked it because, even though it was cheesy the ending was what you learn and relearn as a mother everyday.

So, I say go see it (unless you are my mom or younger sisters). You read my blog, so you are obviously interested in what my life is like. I think if you don't like it, it will be for different reasons than mine. I'd be interested in what you think of it, especially you mothers not in NYC, is it really a story about one of the challenges of being a mother? Does it ring true to you?

I had a better post about the movie building in my head, but don't have time to get it typed, watch the movie and you will completely understand. My loving, helpful husband can't feed the baby who is going to start crying soon.