BABY FOR SALE

Canada/US, 2004, 90 minutes, Colour.
Dana Delaney, Hart Bochner, Bruce Ramsay.
Directed by Peter Svatek.

Baby for Sale is based on actual events. It focuses on the issue of adoption in the United States and the differences in the different states for the crime of baby-selling. This episode influenced the state of New York to change its legislation.

Dana Delaney and Hart Bochner portray a thirtysomething couple who want to adopt a child. They go to the various agencies, meet a prospective mother who disapproves of them because of Natalie (Dana Delaney) and her criticism of her smoking. They go online and are approached by a Hungarian, Gabor Szabo (Bruce Ramsay) who offers them a deal. However, the dealer has contacted other couples and is really auctioning the baby. She is the daughter of a young Hungarian who is illegally in the United States.

The dealer acts with impunity because of the legislation in New York. However, the FBI have been interested in his case and asks the couple to be part of a sting so that the dealer can be accused of grand larceny. They do this. However, they are not immediately given the baby – the issue goes to court. However, the sympathetic judge offers the baby to the family who were ready to sacrifice not having it and has received a letter from the birth mother suggesting that the baby be given to the couple.

This is regular television and movie material but is done efficiently and keeps audience interest. The film was written by John Wierick, author of such screenplays for television as The Matthew Shepard Story and Crossed Over. The director is Peter Svatek, a prolific director of television films.

1.An interesting case study? Adoption? Risks? Crimes? The double-dealing and auctions?

2.The Minnesota setting, an ordinary American family – with the husband as an efficient surgeon? The IVF treatment? The approach to the authorities for adopting? The contrast with the visit to New York, the style of New York living, surveillance? The courtrooms? The musical score?

3.The title – very direct? The sale of babies, New York legislation, different from other states? This case influencing the change in legislation?

4.Natalie and Steve, their life, their attempts to have a child, the failure of IVF? The interviews with the various authorities? Meeting the pregnant girl, her surliness, smoking, her fears? Her not wanting her baby to be given to Natalie and Steve?

5.Natalie, going online, Steve’s objections? The approach from Gabor Szabo? The meetings, the discussions, the baby, Natalie immediately attracted to the baby? It being seemingly theirs? The further complications, Szabo and his dealing with the birth mother, the phone calls, interviewing the other couple but rejecting them, keeping the Johnsons on a hook, raising the price, expenses…? Their not going along with his plans?

6.The approach of the FBI, the explanation of what Gabor Szabo was doing? The couple agreeing to be part of the sting, going to New York, in the hotel room? Natalie seeming to make things difficult, the phone call, her turning on the light? Her impulsive going to meet Szabo? Steve and the risks? The rectifying of the situation? The money, Szabo counting it, its being filmed and recorded? The police going to the apartment, the mother, her friend?

7.The court case, the issues of law in New York State? The case of the FBI, the prosecution? The role of childcare, impersonal, wanting the child to be taken into care? The Hungarian government wanting the child back? Natalie and Steve, their lawyer? The seeming severity of the judge? Natalie withdrawing the claim? The change in the attitude of the judge? Her ticking off the welfare people? Her awarding the child to Natalie and Steve, her reasons, the reading of the letter from the mother?

8.The jail sentence for Szabo, his being returned to Hungary, the change in legislation?

9.The interest in the work of the FBI, the personalities of the agents, the risks, the cases, the execution of the sting and the arrest?