birth, Healing, Honesty
Review: These Are My Hours
Help me bring These Are My Hours to Philadelphia in June 2019, with a special Q&A with Emily Graham! Donate to help cover the costs of theater rental deposit – If you donate $20 now, you will get two tickets to the event once it is booked! If you are a birth professional or business owner and interested in advertising at the event, please email loveoverfearwellness@gmail.com for information. Donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/these-are-my-hours-screening-qampa
I seem to be talking a lot about birth media these days. Between Facebook and Instagram recently allowing uncensored images of birth to be shared, my own personal reactions to misinformed and dangerous depictions of birth in mainstream media, and the Indie Birth conference earlier this month, it is fair to say that the topic of birth media has dominated my conversations for much of the month of May. At the Indie Birth conference we had the privilege of screening an absolutely magnificent film, These Are My Hours, and the opportunity to do a Q&A with the folks behind the film. Now, I could say a lot about this film, but just in case you don’t make it to the end of this post I will just be sure to say WATCH THIS FILM! (Click here rent on Vimeo & use the code BIRTHISRAD for 30% off) In a day and age where we are hard-pressed to find any realistic depictions of birth in mainstream media, These Are My Hours, offers a truly cinematic, real, raw, and downright beautiful glimpse of childbirth. This hour-long production had me laughing hysterically at moments, bawling my eyes out at others, and sometimes, both at once – and it is completely unscripted. One of my favorite things about this film from the backend is that, while it is directed and co-written by a man – Scott Kirschenbaum – the narrative is driven by the woman laboring in the film, Emily Graham, who is also the co-writer and narrator. You can’t even find Scott’s name on the film’s website (click here to explore), you have to go to IMDB or watch the film to find him credited. What a gorgeous real-life example of the divine masculine graciously supporting the divine feminine! In order to produce the film, Emily’s home was prepared in advance with cameras and equipment so that she could get used to having these foreign objects in her intimate birthing space. The crew was called when she went into labor, and showed up to do their jobs as quietly as possible. For most of the film, Emily is alone in the frame. Her partner is nearby but not on top of her, her midwife is in the next room, and her mother is across the room peacefully knitting on the couch. Emily prefers to have the consistent presence of her birthkeepers, but not to be interrupted by them at all during labor, unless she specifically asks for support. Her preferences are perfectly reflected in the final cut of the film, and because of this, I truly believe that These Are My Hours has the power to cure the disbelief of anyone who questions uninterrupted physiological labor. While an uninterrupted physiological birth experience may not be what every birthing person prefers for themselves, it is the right choice for many people – and it is sorely underrepresented in media, and completely ignored in mainstream media. The underrepresentation of this kind of birth not only means that most people do not realize that it is within the realm of possibility for them, but it also leads to the misunderstanding, alienation, and even persecution of those who do know that this is what they want, and who choose it for themselves. My wish is that every single person who may ever give birth, or provide support to another person in labor, watches These Are My Hours. My wish is that this film is shown in med. school, doula trainings, sex ed., and childbirth classes around the world. My wish is that this film is remembered for the role it played in the birth revolution and the reclaiming of birth. I lovingly thank Emily, Scott, Jason, and Carey for this piece of living art.
