“I started writing this story out of curiosity as I though what it might be like for two strangers to embark on an endeavor that’s so intimate and emotionally-charged as having a child,” said screenwriter/ director Nikole Beckwith. “I had this appetite to explore under-represented matter. I wanted to dispel some toxic, heteronormative gender norms.”

Beckwith is referring to her new film Together Together which centers on Matt (Ed Helms) a single man in his mid-forties who wants to become a father with surrogate Anna (Patti Harrison). This type of parenting is more common than you might believe.

The origins of the idea began with her real life friend Matt and his perceptions of his biological clock – a concept traditionally linked to women nearing the end of their most fertile child-bearing years. These conversations spanned several years both on an intellectual and emotional level before Beckwith started writing her story.

The screenwriter also wanted to explore “a woman whose wants and needs for herself aren’t erased or steamrolled because she is pregnant. Anna always retains her sense of identity in the film.”

Once Beckwith had a solid framework to tell her story, she allowed the characters come to her, introduce themselves and tell her their stories. This is evident in the opening scenes of Together Together where Anna and Matt are being interviewed about the urge to have children. However, the film does’t conflate “forever with happily ever after.”

Nikole Beckwith

Nikole Beckwith didn’t specifically draw creative inspiration from other romantic comedies, but rather from her desire to subvert their traditional boilerplate romantic comedies. Curiously, she was inspired by the classic Nora Ephron execution of romcoms, “Familiar but positive. Something you want to revisit again and again.” She wanted to extract the best of those films while making her own. Despite these broad comparisons, the writer is hesitant to pigeon-hole Together Together as a romcom.

Beckwith has a unique spin on the romance in her story. “There’s nothing more romantic than opening yourself up to being seen and allowing someone else to see you.” Anna and Matt have their own unique love language.

Together Together ostensibly is told equally through the eyes of both Anna and Matt. Both have equally long and poignant character arcs. Their relationship is the main character of the story, if you will.

Meet Matt

Matt is not looking to fill a deficiency in his life with a child. “He’s stuck in a chapter of his life which he feels should be over.” He still parties with his single friends. That said, he doesn’t yearn for the typical blueprint of going to college, getting a job, getting married, and having kids. Society is increasingly shifting away from these givens.

This step by step guide to happiness is easier said than done. It’s fine to love your job but not wanting to get married. Getting married and starting a family is quite an undertaking. “Why would you rush it or settle for anyone? Do you need to fall in love in order to have a child? You can’t manufacture these steps in order to have children,” mused Beckwith. Life isn’t such a clear cut path. Decisions aren’t good or bad, right or wrong. Matt doesn’t need to grow up and become a man. He’s simply ready to become a father and Anna is ready to be his surrogate.

Meet Anna

Anna prefers her own company and chooses to make her life decisions by herself. “Loneliness and solitude are two very different things.” You can spend a lot of time alone and not be lonely. That said, Anna is not averse to connection. She’s not a misanthrope or a hermit. “Anna is comfortable with herself.” This concept forms the main part of the connection that brings Matt and Anna together.

Anna’s tumultuous backstory amplifies her desire for self-determination and knowing what she wants. She fell pregnant as a teenager and her parents wouldn’t sign the forms allowing her to get an abortion. She gave birth and put her baby up for adoption against her parents’ decision. “When you go through something like that you become your best advocate imbued with a strong sense of independence. You get to know yourself really quickly.” Anna developed a sense of boundaries following her experiences.

Anna is introduced to the story at a time in her life where she’s aware of herself. Carrying a child to term is also a primary qualification for becoming a surrogate. Her trauma with her estranged family is turned around into something positive with Matt.

On the set of Together Together. Anna (Patti Harrison (left), Jules (Julio Torres) (back), Nikole Beckwith (center), Crew Member (right). Photo by Tiffany Roohani/ Bleecker Street

Both Anna and Matt balance their introversion with extroversion. There isn’t anything socially wrong with either of them because they oscillate between the two.

Both are undergoing their own identity upgrades. They are not immature or unsure of what they want. They are simply entering a new chapter of their lives which fits into what they want. “Both are comfortable in their skins and being good at being themselves.”

Comedic Moments

Together Together blends gentle unassuming comedy with some veritable laugh out loud moments. A traditional joke begins with a setup and a payoff in close succession. “In this film, there’s a payoff but the setup may have been fifteen pages ago,” said the creative.

“I’m not making jokes or contriving situations so a joke can happen. Together Together is a comedy without jokes and a drama without tragedy,” she stated.

True comedy comes from the simplicity of everyday life. It doesn’t need to be overly complicated. Sometimes comedy arises from the sadness of a situation. “Humor is all about perspective.”

Despite their unconventional romance, Anna and Matt wind up in a sweet place. They are both very much in love with each other. “Even if they were to never sit in the same room again, they are still a big part of each other’s life.” They will always reunite at the major milestones of their lives as if they were never apart. “Many relationships are elastic and impermanent. That doesn’t make them any less important or valid.”

Together Together explores the wider spectrum of love and being together.