by Kathy Barrilleaux
I cannot remember if I have ever been moved to write a review for a commercial before, but here we are.
Forget its raison d’être is to sell Volvos. There is a theme FAR more important the film makers convey and it is the advocacy for life.
The ad, in both obvious and subtly unspoken ways, beautifully demonstrates the fundamental reality that an unborn child – a newly conceived life – is a human, a child who will grow in the womb, be born, encouraged to flourish under the care of her mom and dad, mature and manifest all the independent features with which she was gifted at the moment of her conception.
This commercial is, rightly, a 4-minute movie which, in a sane world, should win the Academy Award for best short film of the year. And, for all you Trekkies, it’s the best handful of minutes on celluloid since the opening of the rebooted Star Trek which features Chris Hemsworth as the singularly famous Captain Kirk’s father. And the Volvo ad is just as powerful in the focus on the sacrifices a father is willing to make for his family, albeit presenting the sacrifices in two different ways. Star Trek’s George Kirk nobly throws himself between his wife and child and danger.
The Volvo commercial displays this same fatherly heroism as a willingness to commit completely to the benefit of his child and her mother in a lifetime of loving service as the provider, protector, advisor, and support for his family. The unnamed dad in the Volvo commercial displays the same super hero attributes of good fathers as does George Kirk in the blockbuster Star Trek film. And more importantly both films demonstrate with clarity and unambiguity, the preeminent importance of unborn human life.
Pretty effective commercial too. Good on you, Volvo.
