Film 'Omaha' draws inspiration from Nebraska's Safe Haven Law crisis

A new independent drama that premiered in limited release this month is drawing critical acclaim for its haunting portrayal of a father's desperate circumstances, inspired by a real policy crisis that unfolded in Nebraska in 2008.

The film "Omaha," directed by Cole Webley and written by Robert Machoian, follows a widowed father who wakes his two young children for a sudden road trip from Utah with a hidden purpose: to reach Nebraska, where lawmakers had recently passed a Safe Haven Law allowing parents to abandon children without criminal prosecution. According to reporting from Flatwater Free Press, the film is winning widespread praise from critics, with 89 percent of reviews positive on Rotten Tomatoes.

The inspiration came from actual events. When Nebraska passed LB157 in 2008, the law resulted in 36 children being surrendered to Nebraska hospitals in a 127-day period, most of whom were teenagers or older children rather than infants. The legislation, intended to protect newborns, contained a critical flaw: it failed to specify an age limit, using only the word "child."

Machoian, a screenwriter and director who served a Mormon mission in Nebraska, began writing the script shortly after the law's chaotic implementation. "My script isn't far from the life that I was living," Machoian said, referencing concerns about his wife's health that informed the story's emotional core.

The crisis prompted urgent action from then-Gov. Dave Heineman, who convened lawmakers for a special legislative session. The revised law, signed in November 2008, limited safe haven protections to infants no more than 30 days old. A 2024 law further adjusted the cutoff to 90 days.

Originally titled "Nebraska," Machoian changed the screenplay's name after Alexander Payne released a film with that title in 2013. The script spent years seeking funding before director Cole Webley approached Machoian about helming the project. What began as Machoian's original directing plans evolved into a collaboration, with Webley bringing his vision to the completed film.

The ensemble cast features John Magaro in the lead role, with young performers Molly Belle Wright and Wyatt Solis playing his children. Critics have praised Magaro's understated performance, with one reviewer noting his "quietly haunting" portrayal of a parent facing impossible choices.

Film Streams' Dundee Theater, Omaha's historic nonprofit arthouse cinema, hosted a local premiere with post-screening discussions featuring the director and star. The film received a theatrical release beginning April 24, 2026, and is expanding nationally in May.