The Absence of Mr. or Mrs. B

Showing at the Hot Docs Film Festival: The Absence of Mr. or Mrs. B, directed by Fima Emami and Reza Daryanoush

Synopsis from the Hot Docs website:

Under social pressure, an infertile Iranian couple undergoes multiple in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments that drain both their finances and their marital bond. Both Mr. and Mrs. B take turns threatening divorce and then reconciling in a truly confusing dance of passion and punishment. The opinions of extended family, the mores of the outside world, and bad news from the hospital apply pressure to a relationship already on life-support. Is a baby really the answer to their prayers or a harbinger marking the end of their marriage? This family drama deals with Iran’s policy requiring married couples to have children and the social consequences for those who are less than successful. In a country where IVF treatments are customary and where the second-leading cause of divorce is infertility, Mr. and Mrs. B are not alone. A vivid look at an unstable marriage made worse by cheating, violence, and emotional blackmail. - Angie Driscoll.