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Adoption is tricky business, and transcontinental adoption, even more so. Director Nicola Rinciari, along with writers Darren Dean and Emily Dillard, explores that idea in the film "A Mosquito in the Ear," now available on VOD. This movie examines the ways that adoption is a process both for the parents bringing a new child into their family, but also what that means for the child who is leaving the only life they ever knew.
Andrew (Jake Lacy) and Daniela (Nazanin Boniadi) have been pursuing adoption for six years, and are finally in India to pick up their daughter Sarvari (Ruhi Pal). The head of the orphanage where Sarvari lives is Sister Aruna (Micky Singh), who is trying to make the transition as smooth as possible. But as soon as Andrew, Daniela and Sarvari are alone, the reality of the difficulties surrounding the adoption becomes apparent. Sarvari is yanked from her friends and caretakers and placed with a couple who don't speak her language and whom she has just met. As the three begin to become a family, we see that this process can be more difficult than expected.
"A Mosquito in the Ear" is a somewhat unique film about adoption because it doesn't wrap things up in a neat and tidy bow. While it isn't complete chaos at the end of the movie, it is clear that this isn't an easy transition for anyone in the family. The story does focus a bit too heavily on the parents’ perspective, rather than giving us more time with Sarvari and offering a better glimpse into how this could be traumatic for her. Even so, there are enough moments throughout the movie for us to have some understanding of all involved. When Sarvari says English sounds like a mosquito in her ear, it evokes a visceral response.
This movie boasts a number of really lovely performances. Boniadi and Lacy show the whole range of emotions, and do so convincingly. The exhaustion of being a parent and not knowing how to care for a child you struggle to communicate with is relatively universal, even if the situation is different and they pull it off. Singh has a difficult task of being both kind and firm, but balances that remarkably well. And little Ruhi Pal is absolutely phenomenal in her role as Sarvari, with a nuanced performance that feels perfectly authentic.
One thing that I appreciated about "A Mosquito in the Ear" is that it is more understated than you might expect, given the premise. This is the kind of movie that feels like it will have big, melodramatic moments, but instead they are far more subdued, placing us in the midst of the tension without amplifying it into something that feels manufactured.
We often assume that adoption always results in a happy ending. But that is never a guarantee, no matter how a family is formed. "A Mosquito in the Ear" shares this uncomfortable reality in a gentle manner that should reach your ear just fine, if you're willing to listen.
Alise Chaffins is a freelance and Tomatometer-approved film critic.