Lost in Living

Director Mary Trunk spent seven years filming four mothers who are artists, documenting their struggles to effectively parent while pursuing their work. Painter Marjorie Schlossman and writer Merrill Joan Gerber, who have grown children, discuss their journeys as parents trying to shepherd their offspring from childhood to adulthood—describing the challenges of pursuing their careers as part of an earlier generation in which they were expected to prioritize motherhood over their craft. Filmmaker Kristina Robbins and multimedia artist/film editor Caren McCaleb represent the current crop of mothers, both pregnant with their first child when filming begins. The two are close friends and occasional collaborators, which adds another dimension to the story as they talk about how having kids has changed their professional and personal relationships. In a series of candid interviews, these women share conflicting feelings: they've all felt trapped by parenthood to some degree and frustrated that they cannot focus on creative work as much as they would like, but they also draw inspiration from the family experiences that complicate their lives. Spouses and the adult children of Gerber and Schlossman also share their feelings about living with an artist—voicing a similar mix of love and frustration, although some appear bitter about having often been abandoned for the creative process. An insightful and engaging documentary about the challenging juggling act of making art and raising kids, this is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Cruver)