We live in a patriarchal society where women’s roles have been reduced and restricted for centuries and more. Today, in many traditional countries their ‘job’ is basically to be an obedient daughter, mother and wife. Forced to cater to their husband’s every wish. Often little better than a slave. Even in more progressive nations, women are expected to be maternal. To have babies. If they don’t, there’s something wrong with them. Ninjababy attempts to address this wrong.
Rakel (Kristine Kujath Thorp) has many dreams, but they’re mainly just on paper. While struggling to make ends meet, she likes to party and draw. When a baby has the temerity to make itself known 6 months into a pregnancy, she can’t believe her bad luck. Especially when it’s the result of a one-night stand with the reprehensible Dick Jesus (Arthur Berning). With the help of another conquest, a shy Aikido instructor (Nader Khademi), Rakel faces-up to the possibility of adoption and her responsibility for a new life, with a little help from Ninjababy.
Ninjababy tackles an important (and often overlooked) social issue in a fresh, funny and empathetic way. What it does really cleverly is to steer well clear of delivering a magic bullet. There are no easy answers or sloppy contrivances. It’s a gradual healing process. Director Yngvild Sve Flikke deftly balances the dramatic with the comedic, employing a number of visual flourishes in order create a rounded character portrait. Ninjababy is a breath of fresh air. Playing with gender roles and the expectations placed on young women in society.
Ninjababy is out in cinemas on 10 September.
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