Almost everyone loves babies. They’re cute, joyful, unpredictable -- and their constantly-scanning eyes reflect the wonder of seeing new things. Understanding this phenomenon, producer Alain Chabat came up with the idea for Babies. It's an across-the-world observation of four babies from birth through specific times during their first year. He, along with French director Thomas Balmes, have created an intriguing and very unusual documentary.

Chabat explains his idea for Babies as follows. “I dreamt of a movie theater audience that would applaud because a baby would stand on their own two feet. These tiny things are huge adventures for them – and we’ve all been through that, though of course most of us can’t remember. I felt we could show the commonalities as well as the differences among these babies.”

Four countries and four prospective mothers were chosen for the film. Ponijao, a little girl, was born in rural Namibia. Bayarjargal is a little boy in Mongolia. From Tokyo, the baby girl Mari was selected. San Francisco offered up the third baby girl, Hattie.

Watching the differences through the lives of these four infants is fascinating, especially considering the different circumstances. Hattie, for instance, has all the luxuries of living in an American home where parents have little problem meeting all of her needs. Mari’s parents in Tokyo also seem affluent enough to take care of their daughter who enjoys occasional outings and is often found among a blanket full of toys.

Bayarjargal’s story truly reflects his environment. His father is never seen because he’s off trying to find cattle for their livelihood. Bayarjargal seems quite content with very little and endures – sometimes with tears – the sibling thrashings from his slightly older brother quite well. It’s definitely a very hard life for their mother, but she makes do. This scenario provides some of the funniest moments, particularly when Bayarjargal is barely walking and running around outside pant-less among the cows.

The Namibia scenes are also quite amusing and very telling about the sparse life these people survive under. In nearly all these scenes, Ponijao appears playing in dirt – or trying to eat it – while his mother rests against a tree with her oldest daughter and baby, who’s not too much older than Ponijao.

Babies contains no dialogue or onscreen explanations before or after the film, but I think this might have helped answer the questions viewers will probably have after seeing the documentary. It does include appropriate music fitted to the locale or situation as well as amazing and pure cinematography that captures the real essence of these lives. This is especially apparent when viewing the Namibia footage. While most Americans might gasp at the lack of an abundance of things we have while raising a baby – food, clothes, diapers, ointments – it’s clear these people make do without, or with very little of, these items and are still perfectly content.

Although I found the documentary a bit too long, I enjoyed it and had many laughs. The babies are absolutely precious.

(Released by Focus Features and rated “PG” for cultural and maternal nudity throughout.)

Review also posted at www.reviewexpress.com.