A Movie Review

Last Wednesday I had a chance, to view 2 parts of the 4 part series, "More Business of Being Born", Executive Producer Ricki Lake's sequel to The Business of Being Born at the Alamo Drafthouse.  UrbanoBaby was so excited to be a donor for the event helping it become a free community screening!  Here's a pic of our ad on the big screen!

So glad San Antonio has organizations like San Antonio Natural Parenting and The San Antonio Birth Collective. Without them, this screening would not have been possible. Both are great resources for moms in SA!  
Ok, so every time my husband and I go to the movies we always rank the previews with a thumbs up or down.  It's almost as fun as watching the movie itself and I always find myself forgetting what movie we actually came to see.  So, that's how I'll be rating these films.  In parts, and with a thumbs up or down.



PART 1: "Down on the Farm"

image courtesy of BBOB blog post
"Down on the Farm" by Abby Epstein

"Down on the Farm" which, for the majority, was a sit down interview with, legendary midwife, Ina May Gaskin and some of the other midwives working at the Farm Midwifery Center in Tennessee.  At least for the first two films in the series, the action is at a snails pace.  Without seeing any actual births, it's not as "entertaining", for lack of a better word, as the BOBB, but it's not meant to be like the first film.  It's meant to be more of an "educational tool"; an expansion of sorts as described in the intro of each film.  Though not as chock full of facts, stats, funny movie clips and vintage birth clips like its predecessor, the first part of the series was nonetheless inspiring.  It was like the producers decided to just sit down and pick the brain of Gaskin; to try and get some answers and insights to the homebirth/midwifery model of care vs. hospital birth/OB model predicament.  Unfortunately, still a lot to be answered, but it was interesting to hear her take on birth and the business therein.

The Farm itself did seem like a fascinating idea really.  Think quintessential "Hippie" and you'd be right on the money.  Complete with bright VW buses, peace, love and a little cash, a group of "free-thinkers", as they call themselves on their site, set up a commune in the late sixties-early seventies.  To this day it is still a working community home to some 200 people, sans all the tie die... well maybe not! As the movie explains, Ina Ma is the wife of the leader of the group, Stephen Gaskin, and got her start when they set up the farm and the women started delivering each others' babies. 
She is now viewed by many as the midwife of all midwives; the

image courtesy of BBOB blog post
"Down on the Farm" by Abby Epstein

"guru", as Ricki describes, of midwifery care in the United States and leader of the midwives at The Farm Midwifery Center.  Abby Epstein, Director of the films, jokingly called the Farm a "Mecca" where Ricki would make her pilgrimage.  It was funny, but mostly a little awkward to watch Ricki throughout her convo with Ina May.  Most of the shots of Ricki were that of sheer joy and amazement as though she was looking at something Holy.  You know, that look of "I'm not worthy.  I'm not worthy!"  Needless to say she was "star-struck" by the one Ina May.  Though I thoroughly enjoyed the film, there was one part that was very curious... made me think it was some kind of inside joke? Not sure, maybe I was the only one out of the loop.  Ricki and Abby gave Ina May a gift.  I won't spoil it, but it was a very um... interesting gift to give someone, let alone on camera.  Let's just say it was the gift that keeps on giving if you know what I mean, and it came with a silver accessory!  It was a very short scene, but it left me thinking, "huh? Wait, what just happened?".  The only criticism would be that I would have loved to have seen Ina May in action.  To see a birth on The Farm would have been the proverbial cherry on top of the pregnant belly!  

RATING: All in all... THUMBS UP!