Two Women Create a Human Connection in ‘Unexpected’

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CHICAGO – Providing human life to this planet is the dominion of women, given that they gestate new existence through to birth. It was refreshing to see that gender point of view carried to expressive terms in “Unexpected,” the latest film by Chicagoan Kris Swanberg, and featuring Cobie Smulders.

The story is played out in contrast – a white middle class teacher in Chicago and her achieving African American student both find themselves unexpectedly pregnant. There are obvious different issues on the reflective sides of this coin, and the film does an exceptional job bringing them to light without being stereotypical or preachy. The tight screenplay – by director Kris Swanberg – and the achingly organic performances by the two expectant woman plays like a real scenario, allowing the events to unfold with a satisfying natural rhythm.

Samantha (Cobie Smulders) is a teacher and counselor at a mid-level Chicago high school. Her world is rocked when she finds out that she is pregnant by her live-in boyfriend John (Anders Holm). She goes through the usual panic with this unexpected news, but continues to steer her roster of students toward college, including an exceptional achiever named Jasmine (Gail Bean).

Unexpected
Samantha (Cobie Smulders) Bonds with Jasmine (Gail Bean) in “Unexpected”
Photo credit: Film Arcade

As the prospect of having a child becomes imminent for Samantha, even for her reluctant mother Carolyn (Elizabeth McGovern), it is revealed to her that Jasmine has become pregnant by her high school boyfriend. The parallel situation between teacher and student develop into a friendship, but the differences in their pregnancy circumstances and status threaten to drive them apart. As the birth days get closer, their relationship goes through many changes.

This is a poignantly done narrative through the perspective of woman, with writer/director Kris Swanberg expertly guiding the main characters into the realistic angst associated with a life-changing surprise. The women showcase the ordinary courage it takes to get through this unexpected news – displaying stages of denial, anger, depression and acceptance – while not shying away from the vulnerability that actually being pregnant can generate.

The expansiveness of actress Cobie Smulders has been surprising to experience in 2015. While she displayed some charm on “How I Met Your Mother,” the extent of the character was still on the sitcom level, and didn’t anticipate that she would break out to a prominent role in “The Avengers” series of films, or take on substantial independent fare like the recent “Results” and “Unexpected.” Despite her model-like beauty, she breaks free from her outer shell in this film, to interpret the subtlety of Swanberg’s screenplay with a perceptive depth.

Gail Beans portrays the African American high school student, with a much longer list of past problems than her highly educated teacher. There is an almost perfect confessional scene near the conclusion, again not heavy handed, which exposes the contrast between the two women so profoundly, that each learns a lesson of understanding from the other. Director Swanberg performed the symphony of her screenplay admirably to that point, and Gail Bean delivers it with a punch of authenticity the drives home the point without tears.

Unexpected
Samantha Ponders What to Expect in “Unexpected”
Photo credit: Film Arcade

It is a sense of understanding and empathy that is the film’s power. Kris Swanberg was a teacher in the Chicago Public School system, and obviously developed a talent for empathizing with the journey of her students. Within the mixture of those racial and socio-economic cultures there are many variants, and Swanberg was able to address these differences while keeping every character human. She even spoke to the issue of the public school crisis in the city – an underfunded institution that leaves the poorer neighborhoods far behind. In many ways, “Unexpected” is something that could be happening right now, which is a passionate strength for this type of film.

Art – and especially cinematic art – is a powerful force in creating bridges between the issues that divide us. “Unexpected” stridently walks upon that bridge and makes us realize that focusing on our differences is merely inner speculation. Our true destiny is in what we commonly share.

”Unexpected” is in limited release, including Chicago, and is available for digital download. See local listings for theaters, show times and download sites. Featuring Cobie Smulders, Gail Bean, Anders Holm and Elizabeth McGovern. Written and directed by Kris Swanberg. Rated “R”

HollywoodChicago.com senior staff writer Patrick McDonald

By PATRICK McDONALD
Writer, Editorial Coordinator
HollywoodChicago.com
pat@hollywoodchicago.com

© 2015 Patrick McDonald, HollywoodChicago.com

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