Midwives

Two midwives, freshly graduated, struggle to keep their spirits up in the harsh working environment in Léa Fehner’s newest feature. MIDWIVES is an intense, heart-warming, and politically relevant drama set at a French maternity ward.

Sofia and Louise, friends and roommates, arrive for their first day of work as midwives together. While Sofia is ready to jump in, Louise has a less-than-stellar start, struggling to leave her problems at home. However, as weeks pass, they find themselves under equally intense pressure. The job is glamourless and offers poor pay, and even if one does everything right, not everyone can be saved. Still, they carry on to the best of their abilities, and a remarkable bond is formed between the maternity ward employees.

There is no doubt that Léa Fehner wants to champion the French midwives' cause with her film. It is a no-frills, honest, and deeply human portrait of one of the most difficult, yet essential positions in healthcare. However, this does not overshadow the film's great sense of humor and drama as a work of fiction, resulting in an experience that is both engaging and entertaining

«[Midwives is] just an exceptional movie in how it centers the human body and its requirements, and tells a deeply human story about what we risk when we don’t protect ourselves.»
– Sarah Manvel, Critic’s Notebook –

This film is supported by Institut français de Norvège

Jenny Lund

Pix Politics: Is giving birth in Norway risky?

MIDWIVES is part of the Pix Politics section.

Hospitals are tightening their budgets, and maternity wards are being closed down. Is it possible to provide a safe and secure birthing service when efficiency and prioritization must be the hospitals' top concerns?

Before the screening on 31.08, there will be a discussion on how to ensure a stable, predictable, and quality birthing service for all women.

The event will be in Norwegian.

Read more about the event here.

Director

Léa Fehner (b. 1981) is a French writer and director. She holds a screenwriting degree from La Fémis and has received awards for each of her feature films. Fehner made her feature debut as a director and co-writer of Silent Voice (2009) and subsequently took on the same roles in her next film, Ogres (2015). Midwives is her third feature film.

This film is part of