A Lot of Potential in a Unique Theory

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MOVIE REVIEW
And Now, Love
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Genre: Documentary
Year Released: 2022
Runtime: 1h 26m
Director(s): Jill Demby Guest
Where To Watch: Now available to steam on AppleTV, iTunes, and Amazon Prime

RAVING REVIEW: A vision overshadowed by the documentary subject taking so much of the screen time. While the idea behind the film was intriguing, it was overwhelmed by so much direct narration from Dr. Bernard W. Bail himself.

The film tells the story of Bail and his theory called “the mother’s imprint,” the unresolved negative feelings a mother has about herself that are unconsciously passed down in utero from generation to generation. While I would be open to the idea of this theory, I would’ve liked to have seen more of an unbiased approach coming from peers instead of Bail. While the theory seems bizarre, I was blown away by his dedication and perseverance. He continued pushing forward to help others in a way that ultimately is harmless, whether proven or not.

On an entirely personal note and unrelated to the documentary's content, Bail was hard to listen to. I mean this with the utmost respect; he spent most of the film speaking on his theory, and while I can appreciate getting the information from the source, It was a bit of a challenge to listen to the monotone voice. This isn’t a slight on him; again, I mean no disrespect; Bail was a highly decorated war veteran and had countless incredible achievements in his life.

Ultimately, the positives of his theory and his life's work stuck out to me. Truly believing that “if the world is ever to know peace, women must lead the way.” While I had my issues with the narrative aspects of the film, the overall message ended up winning me over because of the heart this man had. Director Jill Demby Guest has a long list of documentary shorts covering many topics. I’m curious about the reasoning for this one, as most of her work covers much more straightforward works.

Bail passed away on January 26, 2021, at 100 years old, and he left behind a history that sounds like it’s straight from the movies. I would love to learn more about Bail and his path through life.

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