A selection of the top 5 documentary films on real women’s stories about family planning, pregnancy and parenthood. Current maternity issues that make society rethink.
Five Best Documentaries on the Issues of Pregnancy and Motherhood
Brave and honest, modern documentary is not afraid to delve into the most difficult and painful topics. The journey of motherhood, pregnancy and childbirth is undoubtedly an intense and vital area for the filmmakers of today’s documentaries to explore. Obviously, female producers are eager to lift the taboo from this quite unpopular topic in society and show the world the different spectrums of the family planning process and the complexities almost any woman faces.
Our selection of the best female documentaries on this topic covers the physiological health issues of expectant mothers, for some of which medicine already has solutions, such as the complex of pcos supplements by Mira, which are widely used in increasing female fertility. The creators of the movie also call attention to several psychological problems. The sharp issues raised in these films cause concern and make spectators think about the challenges of motherhood and advocate total support for women.
The Business of Being Born, 2008
After going through a personal bad experience of giving birth to her first son in a US hospital, documentary filmmaker Ricki Lake was inspired to create a large-scale project that shows society the different facets of modern medical birthing practices. The movie includes a combination of statistical data as well as a look at the birthing processes within the health care facilities and at home. In turn, the director Abby Epstein has done a huge job to not only show but also compare the pros and cons of different birthing techniques. In general, the movie is quite direct and critical, demonstrating many of the weaknesses of the United States system of services for pregnant women and new mothers.
Babies, 2010
The focus of this documentary shifts to babies in their first year of life and their interactions with their mothers. The producers of the movie chose four real little characters from the United States, Japan, Namibia and Mongolia and showed their journey from the moment they were born to the celebration of their first birthday. This is not only a heart-warming and beautiful movie about babyhood. The documentary fulfills the goal of showing viewers the variations in approaches to parenthood and childcare in different parts of the globe. Human and cultural aspects play an important role in family formation, motherhood, childbirth and baby growth. The film format shows this in the best possible way.
First Comes Love, 2012
Auto portrait film, synopsis in which director Nina Davuluri documents in detail her own journey to motherhood. The audience will see how a woman makes a conscious decision to become a mother on her own, without relying on a partner. It is an amazing experience of a single woman’s path to parenthood, which touches not only on the issues of single parentage but also on the complexities of emotional and physical changes and the personal choices of a woman who has decided to become a mother. Critics have called the documentary a thoughtful movie about family, love, loss and the birth of a new life.
Birth Story: Ina May Gaskin and The Farm Midwives, 2012
A historical documentary film project about the story of Ina May Gaskin and her community of midwives who dedicated themselves to operating an alternative clinic for women on a Tennessee farm in the 1970s. As if in opposition to the state’s medical birthing system, the film diversely explores the philosophy of natural childbirth and documents many successful cases of home birth, emphasizing the importance of both emotional and physical support and care during childbirth. Respectful motherhood, the intimacy of natural processes and the harmonious utilization of modern medical practices without disrupting the natural pregnancy and childbirth process are what the viewer will see on screen.
Motherland, 2017
Probably one of the most shocking documentaries from our selection. This unvarnished movie shows the viewer the ordinary everyday life of the busiest maternity ward in the world, located in the Philippines. It’s a truthful look into the female world of real-life motherhood challenges. It is extraordinary to watch local women go through a hard period in the discomfort of crowded hospital rooms, yet they participate in the most miraculous process on earth. With the documentary’s creators, the real-life characters share their stories, talking about families, and good and bad moments, but keeping happiness in their hearts, close to their babies.
