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shaniqua-m-harvey
Reviews
The Business of Being Born (2008)
Film Review
The Business of Being Born (2008) Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein (Until the Violence Stops) Rating: 7/10 "The United States has the second worst newborn death rate in the developed world" (The Business of Being Born). As a first time mother, this statistic was very frightening. I wanted to understand the reasoning and methods behind this unnerving statistic. This documentary was recommended by a peer and I was not sure what to expect of it, I thought that it would take a look at a few deliveries. But what I received from this documentary was greater than watching a normal birth. I received perspectives, answers and confirmation. Honestly, this documentary sheds light on one perspective and that is natural birthing, it does not look into other methods except to confirm the natural method. The film makers tried to compare the births that take place in a hospital setting and the ones that take place at home. The main focus was the home birth, but I honestly felt like this narrowed perspective allowed me to take the information and process it on my own. As viewers we are shown the processes of a natural birth, and then shown the processes of women who wanted natural births but for one reason or another could not. The main difference that I noted was female choice, which I believe to be the overall message of this documentary. In the hospital female choice was mostly dictated by doctor decision without understanding the rationale behind those decisions. While at home, the decisions appeared to be dictated by the mother; in fact the expectant mothers seemed to be laboring basically on their own without any mediation. Obviously in society with our new focus of going natural, there is going to be aims to support it for every aspect of life. This film supports the natural method of birthing whether at home or in a birthing center. If one is not curious or into the natural method, for a first time mother as myself it allows you to see several birth perspectives. This film can be informative from either perspective if you do not know what to expect for your first birth. It asks mothers to do something that our society usually does not do and that is to question a doctors reasoning behind some decisions. I agree with the film makers when they say that when a doctor say's I think we should do this, we automatically agree because we believe it is in our best interest. The point from this is, sometimes it may be unnecessary. Birth is a natural process in the fact that your body knows how to create, carry and eventually deliver a baby and this documentary delves into that perspective. Baby ratio is 64 born to every 1,000 women, so this is a topic that is very common and profound in our society and very relatable since everyone knows or knew someone who was pregnant at one point. The film makers use personal interviews of themselves, their patients, doctors, and experts to give us a view of the "problem" with deliveries in America. There is a span from child birthing from the 1900's to present time. One of the most appealing points in the film was the use of medicines during the birthing process and their later effects on children. With hospital staff we do see two different perspectives on home versus hospital birth, natural versus non-natural methods of birthing. Abby Epstein and Ricki Lake were both present during the entire film. Lake had an overwhelming presence on the film over Epstein. Majority of the camera shots were close-ups on the speakers at the time, or of the birthing process. Due to the one on one interviews the camera was always eye level on the speakers. The camera would also pan out, to give us a view of the room, birthing process or other speakers. The focus was deep; everything appeared clear and in focus. Some of the hospital scenes appeared to have a soft focus and that was to show the blur and rush of birthing and the birthing process in the hospital setting versus at home or at a birthing center. Editing techniques were mainly cross-cut, to quickly take us to the next scene. The film makers included archival photos and video of birthing over the course of history. Diegetic sound was used throughout the filming of this documentary. My perspective was very biased since I would like to birth naturally but in a hospital. I felt that this documentary helped me gain perspective on my voice and verbalizing my wants during delivery. I think even after watching this documentary I still want to birth in the hospital, I just feel I am more aware of my options. Now from the perspective of mothers that do not prefer natural birthing, I am not sure of the effectiveness of this documentary as a persuasive technique due to my bias. I would be interested in hearing the pros and cons from this perspective. The end of the film I found gave me the perspective due to the film maker Epstein going against the overall objective of the film and then her rationalization of her decision. This changed the perspective from the overlying message of natural home birth is best, to whatever birthing option the mom thinks is best for her!