EIFF 2021: Ninjababy

A surprise pregnancy is a catalyst for laughs and self-acknowledgement in Yngvild Sve Flikke's sharp take on the unplanned pregnancy comedy

Film Review by Carmen Paddock | 23 Aug 2021
  • Ninjababy
Film title: Ninjababy
Director: Yngvild Sve Flikke
Starring: Kristine Kujath Thorp, Arthur Berning, Nader Khademi, Tora Dietrichson, Silya Nymoen, Herman Tømmeraas
Release date: 10 Sep

Yngvild Sve Flikke’s riotous take on the unplanned pregnancy comedy unfolds through the creativity, rage and vulgarity of its protagonist. Comics artist Rakel (Thorp) has no qualms about her wild life, and her intruding memories and expressive animated art invite audiences into her chaotic forcefield. But her roommate Ingrid (Dietrichson) notices some weight gain and strange cravings – and the test is immediately, unmistakably positive.

Ninjababy – Rakel's term for the invader who snuck in and set up camp unnoticed for six months – rejects the idea of pregnancy as a burden or blessing, revelling in its protagonist’s rejection of maturity foisted upon her. Thorp is a force of nature, showcasing the whirlwind of activity and the extreme candour Rakel has developed to deflect from any vulnerability. Of course, the walls come down as Rakel makes new connections and decides the future of her unborn child (crucially, a future not with her), but this slow deconstruction never invalidates her choices.

Flikke deftly intercuts Rakel’s internal hyper-realistic commentary for both comedy and pathos. The director’s unique, assured visual style brings out the absurdity of Rakel’s predicament, and the self-knowledge she alternately acknowledges and buries. For all its irreverence, Ninjababy never turns its characters into punchlines, not even the likely father, referred to only as “Dick Jesus”.

Ninjababy knows that life is precious, and the choices to protect one’s self and one’s dependents are hard, rewarding, defiantly individual and frequently hilarious. Sometimes growth comes in baby steps, kicking and screaming with each one.


Ninjababy has its UK premiere at Edinburgh International Film Festival and is released in the UK on 10 Sep via Curzon Home Cinema