The newcomer Zippi Brand Frank from Israel exposes a new situation in birth practice that involves mostly the Internet.

A journey across three continents telling the story of the up and coming baby production industry in the age of globalization. Google baby makes the issue of birth, according to its opening shot, a matter of YouTube instructions. Being involved in 3 continents, an Israeli homosexual decides to make a business out of American egg donors. He will transfer the freezed embryos to a private Indian clinic, where surrogate Indian mothers will give birth to the appropriate babies.

This first-time operation needs careful instructions, and Doron (the Israeli businessman) decides to monitors this not totally legal process a little closer. The undertone of the film completes spectators' expectations: a neat and dry account of making babies through the Internet that records incredible practices, and verges on irony.

Otherwise, the shot of the Indian surgeon giving information on the cell phone while operating cannot be explained. The social conditions of Indian surrogate mothers are clearly prescribed: "you give a baby, you take money to build your own home".

The American egg donors, on the other hand, have similar considerations, even though their financial worries stop at the bying of a HD 42' TV. Being in the middle, Donor will gradually learn how to freeze eggs, and find an appropriate suitcase to carry them through the airport. He can also make good business with the head of the Indian clinic, Dr. Patel, who is keen to abstain from any responsibility when matters of safety arise.

Google Baby is neither judgmental nor emotional on a practice that is on the rise. It presents a different, modern and sometimes scarry picture on birth, at the same time having a central character as the vehicle of a widespread narrative.

 

CREDITS
Google Baby, 2009

Director: Zippi Brand Frank
Editing: Tal Raviner
Cinematography:Uri Ackerman
Music: Carni Postel
Running time: 77'