The violence of Mixed Martial Arts collides with the attempted serenity of equine therapy. Writer/director Joseph Marconi took his love for the former and layered the power of the latter for the drama of Baby Love. Focusing on Rhiannon “Baby Love” Mitchell (Kiana Madeira), a young MMA fighter suffering a traumatic brain injury, Marconi crafts an intimate look at a young talent faced with losing everything. And the film itself almost lost everything when the original lead actor had to leave two days into shooting.
Marconi spoke with me about the origins of the story and the challenge–and gift–of pivoting to Madeira in the lead. With Baby Love playing at Cinequest, perhaps you’ll catch it at the Alamo Draft House in Mountain View starting March 14 next week. If not there, like any good up and comer you’ll be seeing more of Baby Love soon.
