The Sperm Bank

When we face death head on what kind of legacy do we hope to leave behind? It could be fame, honor, respect, love or in this case…someone to carry on our bloodline even if we are not there to see it. But what happens when faced with the uncertainty and possibility of that future not quite going the way you had hoped? Directed by Margaux Susi, the short film The Sperm Bank takes us on a tragic, comedic journey of one man confronting his own mortality and lineage within the four walls of a local sperm bank. 

Recently diagnosed with Stage 4 testicular cancer Rob (Rob Scerbo) contemplates his future as he waits for his turn at a local sperm bank. Joined by his friends Andy (Jeremy Culhane) and Dave (Aman Adumer) for moral support and a no-nonsense Nurse Kirby (Sophia Ali) trying to keep the schedule on track, Rob considers preserving a potential future by providing a sample before his cancer treatments begin. But when left to finally perform the act on his own, Rob’s own thoughts and fears encroach in the four walls and give him a lot to think about a future that he may never experience. 

Laced with humor and a morose dose of reality, The Sperm Bank is a vehicle for that question: what do we wish to leave behind? Director Susi delivers the answer in spades. While we watch Rob waffle back and forth between the fear and determination to beat “The Big C,” his thought process is relatable and authentic. Imagining the world cheering him on as he grapples with the reality of his diagnosis is enough to make anyone question themselves and their own life choices. But Rob is not alone, especially with friends like Andy and Dave to interject their own supportive humor into the scenario. However, even their presence does not completely assuage the grim reality that Rob faces.  

One of the most powerful parts of the film itself is Rob talking to, well…himself. When the version of himself that is undergoing treatment sits down next to him brings him back down to the gravity of this choice that is when pre-treatment Rob starts to face his own mortality head on. Will he live to see children? Will his sample produce anything? Can he beat the diagnosis? The breakdown is almost too painful to watch and yet post-treatment Rob injects humor to give that final push. That’s because when it comes down to it Rob’s worst fears lie within him and nowhere else. Facing that fear is poignant and relevant in Rob successfully completing his task. And the fact that Scerbo co-wrote this story based on his own experiences provides that little extra to make you want to cheer on Rob from your seat.  

Death is a powerful motivator, especially when not sure what lies ahead. The film The Sperm Bank has viewers contemplating who knows what lie ahead for us all. One thing is for sure – Rob is not willing to let death kill his future without a fight. And possibly some super supportive friends/imaginative scenarios along the way.