Welcome to Independent Lens.
I'm Pete Schwaba, host of
Wisconsin Public Television's Director's Cut.
The quest to have a child for some couples
can be all-consuming.
The idea of carrying a child for those who cannot,
is not new, but it's become a burgeoning business.
Tonight, we take you to a part of America
you probably wouldn't think of
as the surrogacy capitol of the world
with the film "Made in Boise."
If you're in the fertility game,
business is booming in conservative Boise, Idaho,
often considered one of the more wholesome pockets
of this country.
But in this sleepy all-American town,
hairdressers, nurses and stay-at-home mothers
are having babies for complete strangers.
If that doesn't sound like enough of an emotional rollercoaster,
the fact that this business is unregulated
and often puts these surrogates at risk,
raises the stakes even more
in this heartfelt drama directed by Beth Aala.
Given the emotional toll for all involved
when it comes to surrogacy, it's no surprise
that Aala takes a character-driven approach
to telling her story.
She has an impressive resume in her young career.
Aala is a three-time Emmy winning producer
and has also taken home a Peabody Award
for her documentary work at HBO.
"Made in Boise" starts now, on Wisconsin Public Television,
your home for independent film.