The Burden is not, at it's core, a film about teen pregnancy, as serious and important of a topic as that is. The Burden is intended to be a discussion on the various aspects of personal responsibility when it comes to situations that result from actions outside of our control, presented from two different viewpoints: that of Gail, the single mother already shouldering far more obligation than she can handle, and that of her daughter Jordan, the youthful and somewhat naive teenager who sees the world draped in innocent ideals of how things should be, not how they actually are.

While Gail is not morally responsible for her daughter's pregnant friend, having had no hand in the situation that led her to find herself pregnant and about to be abandoned, there is an argument to be made for the individual social responsibility Gail has to act regardless. Individuals, businesses, and governmental organizations intercede on behalf of those in unfortunate situations all the time, not because they have to, but because someone needs to. Whether or not Gail chooses to takes the girl in, the situation will not change; the girl will still be pregnant, she'll still be alone, and she'll still need help. Because the girl does not have the support of her socially built-in network, her family, help is going to have to come from outside, if not from Gail than from someone else like her.

So while it's true that Gail is not technically responsible for what is about to happen to this girl, she is not off the hook for the social responsibility of becoming an advocate for her welfare. One of the basic facts of our existence is that life isn't always fair; sometimes we have to sacrifice our own comforts, and the comforts of those closest to us, for the benefit of the greater good. Were the situation reversed, and Gail's own daughter were in trouble and in need of help, she would want another mother to act on her behalf; and one cannot reasonably expect such selfless sacrifice without being willing to engage in such an act themselves.

Because in the end, does it really matter whether another person is bound to us in blood or not? One could argue that we are all brothers and sisters in the greater scheme of the universe, whether linked spiritually, through the belief that we were all created by the same higher power, or biologically, as genetically linked descendants of Mitochondrial Eve. And if it's true that we are all related to each other in one way or another, does it make sense to treat each other differently based on societal and cultural groupings? Is it true that it takes a village to ensure the well-being of the children of our society... or is it reasonable to expect that one's obligations end with their own flesh and blood?

The truth is, whether we should or not, we do treat people differently when they are our family, our friends, or simply strangers. While Jordan does not distinguish a difference, due in part to her youth and the resulting holes in her understanding of how the world operates, Gail cannot be faulted for her hesitation. Gail wavers in her decision not because she doesn't care about the pregnant teen about to find herself on the streets; she hesitates because of the anticipated sacrifice Jordan will have to make as a result of her intervention. Afterall, Gail is a mother before all else.

We live in a world where questions of moral and social responsibility are constantly in the forefront of our minds. In light of debates on social welfare, nationalized healthcare, the growing green effort and ongoing worldwide military conflicts, fought by multinational coalitions in an effort to stop human rights violations and advance the spread of democratic government in less stable parts of the world, these are ideals we question daily, whether we realize it or not. While the internal ethical battle over one girl may be small in comparison, the way we would answer the question Gail is faced with has broader implications on how we interact with the world as a whole.

Eileen Agosta
Writer & Director, The Burden