Watching Sara Gómez's *brilliant* two films about childbirth—Prenatal Care (1972) and Year One (1972)—made me think of Irene Lusztig's equally brilliant film The Motherhood Archives (2013). Someone should (maybe already has?) put together a series on instructional + experimental maternity films. - ThreadSky

benspky.bsky.social • 23 days ago

Watching Sara Gómez's *brilliant* two films about childbirth—Prenatal Care (1972) and Year One (1972)—made me think of Irene Lusztig's equally brilliant film The Motherhood Archives (2013). Someone should (maybe already has?) put together a series on instructional + experimental maternity films.

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sofiaruvira.bsky.social•23 days ago

This made me think of a great film about maternity and its many sides, particularly in this one; the woman choice of being “childless”. I highly recommend!

https://youtu.be/jnJSiHD3bAQ?si=hVetG42al4sf5Za_

benspky.bsky.social•23 days ago

Thanks!

tanyagoldman.bsky.social•22 days ago

I'm admittedly biased because I found this orphaned collection but depictions of care for newborn infants in silent Henry Street Settlement Visiting Nurse Service films might be cool though, admittedly, not formally inventive
https://hmharchive.com/vnsny-visiting-nurse-service-of-new-york/

benspky.bsky.social•22 days ago

Awesome! I'm looking forward to watching these.

tanyagoldman.bsky.social•22 days ago

Happy to chat about them and broader collection offline. It's a long but very fun story. I wrote about the silent films for the Screening Race volume and have an essay on a 1960s about elder care and nurse training about 80% written.

benspky.bsky.social•22 days ago

Yes please!

andy-uhrich.bsky.social•23 days ago

Kartemquin's "Chicago Maternity Center Story": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7YooL784iw

benspky.bsky.social•23 days ago

Looks amazing! Thanks for sharing.

benspky.bsky.social•22 days ago

Just remembered this great piece by Irene, too:

https://tc3.canopycanopycanopy.com/contents/the-motherhood-archives

benspky.bsky.social•23 days ago

You could also include George C Stoney's All My Babies: A Midwife's Own Story (1953) and Arnold Gesell's Life Begins (1939).

benspky.bsky.social•23 days ago

Brakhage's Window Water Baby Moving (1959) should probably be in there too.

benspky.bsky.social•23 days ago

Prenatal Care was especially stunning. The sound design in the final birth sequence has so much going on that it takes what seems to be an instructional film into a completely new terrain of really complex emotions. This one's definitely worth seeking out!

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