8/2/2019 Donor Unknown

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Donor Unknown

With the recent passing of Father’s Day many would have celebrated the lives of their 

father, but what is it like to only know a father by a sperm donor number? Until

recently, for 20 year old JoEllen Marsh that has been a reality.

Donor Unknown charts the seemingly unique story of JoEllen and her burning curiosity

to know more about her anonymous donor father. After discovering an online registry

which connects donor-conceived children, she manages to track down a half-sister in

 New York and immediately her seemingly unique story becomes more ordinary than

she could have ever imagined, with a further 12 half-siblings emerging from all across

the United States.

Jerry Rothwell’s film is about identity, genetic inheritance and the family of the future.”

It highlights the connections made between the children and their donor dad and raises

questions about society’s understanding of parenthood and the strange power of our 

genetic connections.

Donor Unknown is both funny and moving and feels like a documentary that has been

shot in the twee style of 2007 comedy, Juno with its indie music, eccentric characters

and sometimes brazen dialogue. The manner in which it coveys love and parenthood is

hilarious yet there is something tragic about the situation involving JoEllen’s father,

Jeffrey: the advent of fatherhood appears to be highlighting cracks in the cool exterior 

he tries so hard to convey evoking shame, and at times pride begins to take over.

Rothwell’s documentary is a sensitive portrayal of this uniquely modern family,

emphasising the bizarre nature of the familial relationships that may exist more

commonly in the future whilst also illustrating that fondness and bonds can still exist

regardless of such clinical and distant family life.

Each member of the growing 150 family is on a journey of discovery that opens up

some fascinating questions about nature and nurture, the responsibilities of parenthood,

the moral integrity of the cryobanks, and the hazards of genetic inheritance and begs its

audience to acknowledge the changing face of family life.

The film is a snapshot of a group of people who are all pioneers. The parents – 

heterosexual, gay, single and in couples – were determined to have children against the

odds, and happened to choose the same sperm donor. Now they’re living with theunpredictable consequences of their choice whilst their children go on to meet the man

who until now they have only known as a number – what effect will it have on all of 

their futures?

Donor Unknown is on DVD on 4 July and will be transmitted on More4 on 28 June.