Truly Dreadful Film

One of the worst movies I've ever seen

It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

This film sort of fell into my lap while I was channel surfing last night. When my boyfriend came into the room, I told him, "I'd like to see this, but I don't know that you'd have much interest in it, so I'll just tape it tomorrow and watch it later." He said fine, that we could watch one of our weekly taped programs.Neither of us touched the remote control. The story of little man Nicholas was *that* captivating. It's also hard to watch at times, and makes you question your own beliefs in regards to where to draw the line with modern medicine as well as the lengths you would go to in order to save your child's life.The child in this film, Nicholas, is not only afflicted with mysterious congenital issues the doctors can't identify, but the woman carrying him develops a life-threatening condition that requires him to be born roughly halfway through the gestation period or terminated. Some might argue that these developments could have been nature's way of saying, 'No, this child should not be born." Prolonging the lives of premature babies is a highly controversial subject. The child's life -- and quality of life -- isn't the only life affected, of course. Families with preemies (who so frequently become special needs children) struggle and frequently fall apart under the pressure. Not only is this film about the struggle to save a child who has seemingly every strike against him, but it is also about the struggle to save a relationship and a family. Anyone who tries to make the argument that same-sex marriages aren't really marriages should watch this film. These women are a team, every bit as much as any husband/wife team. Yes, they have the difficulties and struggles, but they are a team more dedicated to saving what they have than most of the heterosexual couples I know. I can't begin to count the number of people I know whose heterosexual marriages fell apart after the development of cataclysmic health issues.Several times throughout this film, I found myself thinking, "I would not be able to do that." I so admire the director of this film for going so public with this very, very personal fight. Several times, I found myself thinking, "Is it fair to put this child through so much? Is it right?" I can't answer the questions about fairness or rightness. After all, I didn't live this situation. It wasn't my child or my relationship. What I will say is this: This film is every bit as joyous as it is wrenching. It's not so much a film to be watched as it is experienced. As I said, my boyfriend and I fully intended to turn away from this film and watch something else. The story, the way it was told, and the honesty with which it was told made turning away impossible.

I learned a lot from this film. I learned not only how controlling we can be as human beings but as artists.Though I can not fully comprehend what this filmmaker has been through in her personal choice, I can certainly relate as a woman who has been faced with the difficult decision on whether or not to give up a child. I certainly admire Nicole's desire to give Nicholas a chance to fight for his life, but I was disgusted by the lengths that she would go to in order to play God with his fragile existence.This IS an important film in that it should be shown to every person on the planet considering fertility treatments, surrogacy or even having a child in the most basic sense. What do we...as simple animals...really understand about the workings of the universe? How do we know that the child's spirit wasn't waiting, in fact, for a better body for him to live in? Poor Nicholas didn't have a choice, it seems to me, which I find very ironic.Not only did I not find it inspirational that the filmmaker would essentially dare to risk the loss and emotional damage to her existing family (how cold the living not be more valuable?), I came out feeling that the filmmaker has MAJOR control issues...including controlling her audience.Nicholas was not allowed to live or die in his own way. He was forced to live, kept alive by technology. Well, watching this film, you as an audience member get to be little Nick for awhile as the filmmaker doesn't allow you to really have your own thoughts or feelings about the tragedy, the medicine, or the family dynamics. In fact, you get to have no emotion AT ALL of your own...thanks to manipulative and forced music, editing and images of happy children who the filmmaker herself says are her shining moments of life. (Alas, she forgets that children soon grow up and BOY do they change).I really feel for this family. This film is a tragedy to me. A tragedy that could have been avoided by a wonderful invention called ADOPTION.

Riveting, compelling, devastating, joyous, emotional, are some of the words that come to mind as I think of "Little Man" the documentary! Viewing this film has been, and will always remain, one of the most significant movie experiences of my entire life (and I see many many films). The experience was enhanced by the fact that director Nicole Conn and producer Danny Jacobsen were present during the screening at the Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, and were available for a most impressive Q&A. The journey undertook by Nicole, Gwenn, Gabrielle and little man Nicholas is proof positive of the wondrous possibilities of love, hope, patience and understanding. This is a must see film for all!

Oh my God...I was totally blown away by this doc. In fact, it doesn't even really feel like a documentary -- more like a movie about this family that is thrown into the worst of circumstances and comes out with the best of outcomes... It stayed with me for days and I kept wondering what it is that I would do if I was put into these circumstances. I was especially intrigued by the entire dilemma regarding the pregnancy (I'm not giving anything away here -- it happens early on in the movie) I was so taken by the way this delicate situation was handled and yet the filmmakers were so completely honest. The film stayed with me for days... and I thought about it for weeks afterward... wow and more wow!