By Staff, October 26, 2005
Without warning, a family is brought to its knees when faced with choosing between the destruction of their idyllic family life and the life of their infant in the documentary "Little Man." Director Nicole Conn ("Claire of the Moon") exposes the rawest of human conditions by portraying a family with unflinching candor and invites viewers to probe the most private of questions: Just because technology allows us to keep these infants alive, should we? When does caring become cruelty, and at what price comes life?
"Little Man" captures the minute-by-minute fight for life in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) of little Nicholas, who also happens to be Conn's son. Conn had unprecedented hospital access during Nicholas’ 158 days in the NICU. Cameras are not generally allowed in these life-and-death environments, so the kinds of images and drama captured in the 150 hours of footage have rarely been seen.
Born to a surrogate, Nicholas introduced his mothers, Gwen Baba and Nicole Conn, to the world of micro-preemies, babies born weighing less than 500 grams.
At three years old, Nicholas weighs only 20 pounds
. Although still considered very small for his age, his weight as increased 13-fold during his life. It has not been easy. When Nicholas was born, a doctor tells Conn that she can count on one hand how many babies his size have made it.
In spite of the odds, Nicholas is a fighter. He is the smallest male patient at Cedars Sinai Hospital to survive since 1998. During his stay in the NICU, he weathered five months of medical emergencies and miracles, numerous surgeries, more blood transfusions than could be counted, kidney failures, pulmonary hypertension and horrifying code-blue crises. Still dealing daily with the continuation of multi-monitors — including oxygen machines, heart and apnea monitors — and fed through his stomach, Nicholas continues to get stronger.
"Little Man" is currently playing the festival circuit and was awarded the Best Documentary Jury Award at the Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, the Best Documentary Audience Award at Los Angeles Outfest, the Best Feature, HBO Audience Award at the Miami Gay & Lesbian International Film Festival, the Best Documentary Jury Award at New York NewFest, and the Best Documentary Jury Award at Chicago’s Indiefest.
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