Upamanyu Biswas
Helmed by Brianne Nord-Stewart, Lifetime’s ‘I Was Octomom: The Natalie Suleman Story‘ takes a deep dive into the life of a struggling single mom named Natalie Suleman, AKA Nadya, who finds herself at the center of the media’s attention after conceiving octuplets. Subsequently, Nadya is branded as “Octomom” by the media, turning her into a celebrity sensation overnight. As her life changes, the young mother must balance her priorities as the lone provider for fourteen total children with a variety of jobs, leaving her with a host of anxiety issues and fear of losing her kids. Meanwhile, her life choices are criticized by numerous public personalities, who rail against her desire for a big family and the legitimacy of her motherhood journey, forcing her to persevere and rise above overwhelming odds.
Review: I Was Octomom is a Heartfelt Piece on the Travails of Motherhood
While not entirely perfect, ‘I Was Octomom: The Natalie Suleman Story’ is a poignant examination of a young mother’s battle against herself and the world as she tries to take care of her budding children. The film resonates on a variety of fronts, mainly in its depiction of Nadya’s story through an intimate point-of-view that showcases the mistakes and triumphs of her life in equal measure. In doing so, it manages to construct a narrative that feels messy but ultimately captivating for its honesty and vulnerability. Much of this can be attributed to the complex relationships between Nadya and her mom and her relationship with her children. As the former tries to do right by her kids, she is constantly fueled by her own childhood experiences, which color her perspective in a flawed manner, making her plight relatable even when she is moving down a dark path.
In many ways, the movie is a realization of the resolve and toughness lurking within everyone’s exterior. There are some issues with the climax of the movie, wherein the resolution feels slightly underwhelming as compared to what is at stake. However, these minor gripes are often overlaid by compelling performances by the film’s cast, who try to embody the real Nadya’s life and experiences as authentically as possible. Although the subject matters explored can be difficult to broach, the movie does a commendable job of highlighting their importance, such as parental responsibility, IVF treatment, dubious medical practices, motherhood, and personal accountability. They add several layers to the central drama, making it feel rich and textured in the best possible way.
I Was Octomom Plot Synopsis
The movie begins with Nadya lying on an inclined operating table where a crew of doctors help her deliver seven babies in quick succession. Once the children are deftly extracted from Nadya’s body, the doctors turn around to congratulate each other. However, they soon realize that Nadya has an eighth baby still in her womb. The scene cuts to the past, where we learn that Nadya is living with her six kids at her mom Angela’s place. As a single mother, the protagonist struggles to juggle her work responsibilities with her duties as a mom. Often, Angela takes care of the kids because Nadya is unable to make the time, causing some friction between mom and daughter. Worried that one of her kids is not socializing well enough, the protagonist decides to conceive a seventh kid via IVF treatments under the care of her fertility doctor, Dr. Kamrava.
Kamrava plants numerous embryos into Nadya, assuring her that the increased amount will help guarantee a pregnancy. However, it goes awry when she is examined and discovered to be holding seven kids in her womb. She tries to keep the news hidden from her mom, but the rapidly growing baby bump around her stomach area makes it hard to conceal. While Angela holds the fort down with Nadya’s increasing need for care, her friend Beth also joins in to alleviate some of the pressure exerted by the kids. Soon, the day arrives when Nadya delivers her octuplets, which is witnessed by many as an unprecedented moment. In the aftermath, Nadya turns into a celebrity and is branded as “Octomom” by the media and public.
I Was Octomom: How Does Nadya Finance the Caretaking of Her Kids?
After the birth of the octuplets, Nadya’s total child tally goes up to fourteen children. With fourteen hungry mouths to feed, the young woman is put under immense stress and anxiety as she tries to come up with a feasible way to keep her life afloat and provide the best care for her babies. The foremost among those concerns is the dire financial situation she is stuck in as a single parent juggling multiple responsibilities. However, an opportunity arises when she gains notoriety for birthing the octuplets. Although hesitant due to her social anxiety, the woman decides to utilize her fame and make television appearances to bankroll her large family’s sustenance. This has an adverse effect as one of her interviews creates a rift between her and Angela, leaving her alone to take care of her fourteen kids.
Nadya progressively takes on more and more demanding jobs, most of which take advantage of her newfound fame as Octomom. It allows her a way to keep up with the expenses of her family while also finding a way to be productive. However, these jobs get increasingly dubious as she dives into the world of adult entertainment. Meanwhile, public dissent against her lifestyle choices and her kids continues to rage on as people criticize her decisions. Things get even more complicated when a child protective service officer named Tess stops by the house to inspect the upbringing of her kids. Nadya’s fear of losing her kids grows even further, and she works even more to ensure that she never loses custody of them. Still, it comes at the cost of damaging her personal health and reputation in the public’s eyes.
How Does Nadya Stop Being Octomom?
Over time, the anxiety and stress of her day-to-day life, juggling between motherhood and work, leads Nadya down the path of substance abuse. As a result, she has to take some time off and check herself into a rehabilitation center for at least a month. At the institute, she starts reestablishing the foundations for a healthier lifestyle while also disconnecting from the challenges she had been confronting around the clock for years. By the end of her treatment, she is pleasantly surprised when her therapist doctor offers her a role at the institute. As Nadya has prior experience, she is overjoyed at the opportunity, especially as it comes with a variety of benefits like free housing and a stipend. It finally allows her to remove the shackles of the previously exploitative managers she was working under.
The decision to step away from the limelight to take on a role as a counselor helps her move away from the “Octomom” persona bestowed upon her by the media. For large chunks of the narrative, Nadya kept taking on entertainment jobs that exploited her celebrity fame, keeping her attached to the moniker that she hated deep down inside. The cycle kept repeating itself until she finally broke away from it by giving up the title herself. Although somewhat dramatic, it perfectly encapsulates how people can become trapped in a toxic rut because of the overwhelming obstacle set in front of them. In some ways, Nadya realizes that she is the only one who can change her narrative. Once this realization occurs and the opportunity materializes, she makes the right choice and moves forward without looking back.
What Happens to Nadya’s Mother?
As she settles into her new life, Nadya learns that her mother, Angela, has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The news is a massive shock to Nadya, who finally decides to bury the hatchet with her mother for good by inviting her to stay at her house where she can care for her. Although Angela is hesitant, fearing that her daughter might be overwhelmed with the number of children she is already looking after, she decides to heed Nadya’s advice. The film then skips to an unspecified future, likely a few months later, where Angela is living with her daughter while still being treated for cancer. Angela finally comes clean with Nadya and the two reconcile their relationship, with the former stating that she was never able to express her love for Nadya adequately, even though she always did. It is a heartfelt moment that captures the complex nature of their bond.
In the final interview section, the real Nadya states that her mother passed away in 2014 in her arms. She also explains that she was grateful for being able to fix her relationship with her mother in the final parts of her life and have a healthy mother-daughter relationship. In a strange way, this brings the story full circle as Nadya’s relationship with her own kids is reflected in her relationship with her mom. When they grow distant from one another in the early parts, Nadya struggles to keep pace with her children and the exhausting jobs that take everything out of her. However, after she begins to reassemble her life and push past the dark periods, her relationship with her mother is the last thing she needs to mend in the narrative. Once she does, the story comes to a natural and elegant conclusion.
Read More: Is Dr Michael Kamrava a Real Doctor?
