Baby Boom

Originally published on social media on September 17th, 2022

Whenever I think of September, I think of this film. Looking back, this film has seen my family and I through many Septembers in different houses and seasons of life. Each watch has brought love and comfort to our souls along with a greater sense of empowerment.

We never watch this film until we feel the change in the air…you know, that slight autumn chill. It’s a film for the autumn season because a big portion of it takes place in Vermont and involves making apple sauce.

There are so many reasons to love this film. For one thing, it’s an earlier Nancy Meyers film, and her writing style is iconic. In all of her films, she creates characters that are original, yet relatable and hilarious. Her scripts are never intensely serious and the humor is effortless. A good portion of her films, including this one, involve one of the best actresses Hollywood has ever seen: Diane Keaton. What is there not to love in Diane Keaton? She has that natural charisma, humor, and relatability that pair really well with a Nancy Meyers script. My family and I also love this film for its lighting, it’s wide range of hilarious secondary characters, and for its adorable baby!

All these elements make for a wonderful film, but the best thing about its film is its messages. First, that a woman can do anything she sets her mind to and not feel trapped by the standards of egotistical men. Second, that a woman can have it all and in her way as long as she works hard and remains true to herself. This really sticks out to me in this season of life where I keep hearing multiple people tell me what they think success looks like and how to achieve it. Their stories are valid, but their stories aren’t mine. Films like this remind me that I don’t have to follow their paths in order to be happy or successful, regardless of how I choose to define either category. Granted, as this film shows, sometimes sacrifices have to be made, but often it’s through making those sacrifices that you gain something better. Lastly, that life is full of surprises and that you should embrace the opportunities that excite you because you never know what those will lead to.