German film Two Mothers (Zwei Mütter), based on the true stories of German lesbian couples, centers on Katja (Sabine Wolf) and Isabella (Karina Plachetka), a married lesbian couple who want a child. Since they want no relationship or involvement with the birth father, they contact fertility clinics, looking for help. After facing discrimination from the clinics and spending large amounts of money on countless insemination attempts through one of the only doctors in the country who is willing to help them, Isabella (Isa) seeks alternatives, eventually procuring help from someone who runs a website connecting lesbians with men willing to donate sperm. Katja grows weary of their attempts, feeling farther and farther removed from Isa as having a baby becomes Isa’s sole focus.
Eventually, they find a man who calls himself “Go for Gold,” whose sperm has already successfully inseminated 20 other woman. Isa is so ecstatic that she doesn’t even care that he insists that he be able to see “his” child every 3 months, violating one of the central agreements she and Katja had made about how they wanted to raise their child. She agrees to his terms without even discussing the idea with Katja, who is so removed from the process by this point that she barely even speaks. Isa eventually becomes pregnant and Katja becomes more withdrawn from their relationship.
The toll of searching for a way to become pregnant is stressful enough to cause severe strain on their relationship, but Katja is worried about her place in Isabella’s pregnancy and in the life of their future child, since she will technically not be the mother or father in the most literal sense. She increasingly feels like an outsider and a passive observer in Isabella’s quest.
The dialogue in the movie feels honest and pointed. Katy and Isa’s relationship is presented sincerely and doesn’t feel contrived. The movie is a spare production, which adds to the rawness and the reality of Katja and Isa’s situation. There is no music to distract or manipulate feelings, nor are there many side characters. The focus is solely on Katja and Isa and the actresses’ performances are strong and very relatable. The movie should appeal to couples in a similar situation or to those curious about the process. It does not paint a blissful picture, however, and shows the dangers both implicit and explicit to lesbian parenting.
Two Mothers won the FGYO Award for best dialogue at its Berlin International Film Festival premier in 2013, and went on to earn acclaim and nominations at film festivals around the world, including acting awards for lead actresses Sabine Wolf and Karina Plachetka. The DVD will be available to purchase online and at all major retailers January 13th.