This documentary presents an interesting view of 4 infants being born into their respective environments, which are vastly different, and follows their growth for the first year of their lives. We, as well as they, view the defining aspects of different cultures in Africa, Mongolia, Japan and the United States.

The babies are:

Ponijao, who lives in Namibia (Africa) with her family, her parents and eight older brothers and sisters. Ponijao's family is part of the Himba tribe, and lives in a small village with other families.

Bayarjargal, usually called "Bayar" for short, was born in Mongolia, and lives with his mother, father, and older brother Delgerjargal ("Degi") on their small family farm.

Mari lives with her mother and father in Shibuya, a busy metropolitan area in Tokyo, at the center of all of the city's noise and excitement. Mari is an only child and lives a contemporary urban lifestyle.

And Hattie, who lives in San Francisco and born to very ecological, "green" parents. Both of Hattie's parents are equally involved in her day-to-day life, fixing her meals, taking her to play groups, and spending time with her around the house.

The documentary’s style doesn’t follow the traditional production techniques of a narrator’s track to explain aspects, the stirring music score to emotionally stimulate reaction from the viewer, or dynamic revelations to bring across the key points. What we experience in ‘Babies’ is the natural ambient sounds of the environments of each baby as they discover them. We see the babies’ reactions to elements of one culture that would certainly be a fear factor in others.

What’s the most startling affirmation for this reviewer while watching ‘Babies’, how absolutely marvelous the instinctual element instilled in all of us as humankind, adaptability…

“Babies”, directed by Thomas Balmès. Focus Features release. Rated PG for cultural and maternal nudity throughout.

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