The Stork

Situations don’t come much stickier than the story of The Stork. This short from director Stephen Gallacher and writer Ronan McCabe is not for the queasy or faint of heart, but packs in genuine laughs and raises some intriguing questions about how parents engage with their LGBT children.

Courier Clive (Tom Rosenthal) has a VERY special package to deliver. Working for an online semen delivery company (and no that is not a euphemism), he is tasked with carrying a specimen for a lesbian couple trying for a baby. But when parents Ian (Paul Chahidi) and Gwenda (Siobhan Finneran) answer, a mishap leaves their parcel in a, well, mess. The three have to come up with a new plan before the couple find out, and Clive is tasked with delivering in a very different manner…

The initial impression that The Stork will leave on audiences will no doubt revolve around its unflinchingly frank portrayals of insemination – including some rather graphic scenes of genetic material that many filmmakers would shy away from. But underneath this is a film that has a poignant message about how parents relate to their LGBT children – and how even in clumsiness they can show acts of love. Gwenda and Ian may not really understand the dynamics of their child’s relationship, but they are determined to do what they can so their child can experience the same happiness in parenthood that they did. As unconventional as their methods are, Ronan McCabe makes sure to establish this as his characters’ motivation from the off, and it ensures a sweetness in the film.

The film does however suffer from a lack of the couple’s presence. For a film that revolves around an LGBT issue, it is strange that those individuals do not feature at any point. The ultimate driver of the plot is the aim of hiding the accident from the couple, and without their presence, this never really feels properly established or resolved. Add in some missed opportunities for humour, and it is a strange omission for the story’s themes and narrative.

Siobhan Finneran is the highlight of the short as Gwenda – a well-intentioned wrecking ball of a mother determined to do right by her daughter. Her delivery of a line about a photo of Ian’s mother might be my favourite of the year. Her deference to the younger Clive about what is and isn’t politically correct is another great source of laughs, whilst also establishing her as someone self-aware enough about her lack of understanding when it comes to her daughter’s life. Paul Chahidi and Tom Rosenthal hold their own as well – and each of the three characters stands out as distinct and filled with personality.

It is these performances that make The Stork and entertaining and enjoyable mishap comedy. Despite its thematic and narrative flaws that are mainly the result of omitting the couple at the centre of the farce, there are plenty of laughs for those who don’t mind a bit of grossness.