Independent Lens
Matter of Mind: My Parkinson's
Three individuals–a political cartoonist, a mother turned boxing coach, and an optician–navigate their lives with resourcefulness and determination in the face of Parkinson’s disease.
Sister
Madam Bwa has never been trained, but she's delivered over 12,000 babies. In this documentary, the difficulties of childbirth are laid bare and the strategies to improve maternal health and mortality rates are explored with an affecting clarity.
- Series
- Women of the World
- Premiere Date
- June 1, 2015
- Length
- 60 minutes
Director/Producer
Brenda Davis
Brenda Davis is a Canadian citizen who grew up in Toronto and is a U.S. permanent resident currently living in New York City. Brenda has over 20 years experience in various aspects of filmmaking. She has worked as a script supervisor, a script consultant, and extensively as a researcher. She is a member of the researchers organization FOCAL International.… Show more
Co-Producer
Alexandra Swatu Guild
Swati Guild is a filmmaker and artist with a global perspective. Her projects span numerous media including documentary films, experimental video and street photography. Since graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 2005, her documentary work has been broadcast internationally on Al Jazeera and Record TV, featured in film festivals in… Show more
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The Film
Madam Bwa has never been trained, but she's delivered over 12,000 babies. She works on filthy floors and in crowded slums, while her mothers-to-be eat dirt to survive. From Ethiopia to Cambodia to Haiti, across the Third World, life lies in fragile hands. In this beautiful documentary, the difficulties of childbirth are laid bare and the strategies to improve maternal health and mortality rates are explored with an affecting clarity. An intimate portrait of a global crisis.
