Mixed Blessings 1995

Three couples chase the dream of becoming parents, each facing heartbreak, hope, and the difficult choices that come with infertility.

Diana Goode Douglas, Gabrielle Carteris and her husband Andy Douglas, Bruce Greenwood, are a newlywed pair with thriving careers who have been unable to conceive for eleven months. A visit to the doctor reveals that Diana has an ovarian problem, offering only a 1 in 10,000 chance of pregnancy. Diana, who has always longed to be a mother, considers surrogacy, but the process proves painful for both of them, and she worries that she is standing in the way of Andy’s dream of fatherhood. The strain leads her to file for divorce. Yet Andy convinces her that their future lies together, and they choose to pursue adoption. They meet Jane, a student who believes having a baby would derail her bright future. After Jane gives birth to a girl named Hilary, Diana feels a surge of joy at finally becoming a mother, but Jane soon changes her mind and claims the baby back. Meanwhile, Diana discovers she may still be pregnant. In the end, Diana learns she is pregnant again, and Jane’s decision not to have the child secures a life for her, leaving Diana with two children.

Charlie Winwood, Scott Baio is an orphan who shares Diana’s longing for children. He is married to Barbie, an aspiring actress who isn’t eager to be a mother. When a routine visit to the doctor reveals Charlie’s sterility, the news shakes his world, and five weeks later Barbie announces she is pregnant, suggesting infidelity. Charlie leaves Barbie and eventually meets Beth, Alexandra Paul a single mother who has built a life with her child. They fall in love, marry, and Charlie steps into the role of father figure to Beth’s child. Together they decide to adopt another child, seeking a family of their own built on trust, resilience, and shared hope.

Pilar Graham Coleman, Bess Armstrong and Brad Coleman, James Naughton are an older couple facing a different challenge. After Brad’s daughter announces she is pregnant, Pilar and Brad decide to try to conceive as well, confronting age-related obstacles. An artificial insemination leads to a miscarriage, crushing them. Yet Pilar refuses to give up and eventually becomes pregnant. She carries twins to term, but tragedy strikes when one of the twins dies, leaving the remaining child to navigate a precarious new beginning with her parents. The film follows how each couple negotiates love, loss, and the evolving idea of what family can be.