Mother's Baby

Successful conductor Julia is finally pregnant with the help of fertility treatments. However, something strange happens during the birth, even though everyone assures her that nothing is wrong. Once she returns home, Julia quickly notices—after spending time with her baby—that the newborn behaves oddly. When she tries to explain this to the clinic or her husband, no one seems to believe her. On the contrary, Julia is met with condescension and dismissal.

Director Johanna Moder skillfully uses space in her visual storytelling, allowing the pressure of the environment to build a sense of tension. Although the settings are ordinary like hospital hallways and living room interiors, they gradually become oppressive, claustrophobic spaces with no apparent escape.

Julia’s concerns are portrayed realistically, and Mother’s Baby never resorts to exaggeration for the sake of suspense, even if the film toys with elements of a sci-fi thriller. Instead, the film remains grounded in a minimalist, liminal atmosphere that intensifies the unease. Viewers, like the protagonist, find themselves trapped in a world where a woman’s personal experience is systematically discredited.