Unexpected

[projekktor id=’20068′]

Unexpected is an independent drama co-written and directed by Kris Swanberg. It was a hit at this year’s Sundance Film Festival where it premiered. The film stars Cobie Smulders, Gail Bean, Anders Holm, and Elizabeth McGovern.

Samantha Abbott (Cobie Smulders), is a dedicated and passionate teacher at an inner-city Chicago high school. Just as she is coming to terms with her school closing, Samantha faces some life-changing and unexpected news: she is pregnant. After breaking the news to her supportive live-in boyfriend John (Anders Holm) and opinionated mother (Elizabeth McGovern), Samantha learns that one of her most promising students, Jasmine (newcomer Gail Bean), has landed in a similar but very different situation. As the women navigate their ambitions for the future, whether tackling the painfully hilarious realities of pregnancy or challenging each other to think beyond motherhood, Samantha and Jasmine forge an unlikely friendship that will challenge their perspectives and leave a lasting impact on one another.

Coincidentally, Smulders was pregnant with her second daughter during the production of the film. The project was appealing to her for a number of reasons.  “I read the script and just flipped over it. I felt like it was a story I hadn’t heard before, one that was very relatable to me, in terms of the challenges of being a working mom and taking that initial leap into motherhood. That’s hard, after having a career being your main focus, and shifting it to then being a mom and trying to do it all. It’s a very challenging thing for a lot of people.”

Unexpected is rated 14A.