

“The fight for what feels right”
Pacific Mother journeys from Japan, to Hawaii, Tahiti, Rarotonga and Aotearoa to share interwoven stories of formidable women who live at one with the Pacific Ocean – freediving, spearfishing and paddling waka through its depths and playing with their children in its shallows – a stark contrast to fast-paced lifestyles of larger towns or cities. These women are all mothers who experienced diverse births in hospital, at home and by the sea, with and without medical assistance. Fukumoto also meets Māori and Japanese midwives who share indigenous traditions and rituals around birth that have been lost over recent generations, and are now gradually being reclaimed. Their stories demonstrate just how disconnected the global default maternity system is from the instinctive and cultural needs of mothers and families. They inspire a call to action on birthing rights, as well as a call for parents’ reconnection with their role as nurturers and protectors of their natural environment.
Director
Writer
Status
Released
Original Language
EN

Dr. Michelle Minikel thought home birth was crazy--until she got pregnant. Turns out she's not alone. Join director Jessicca Moore on a compelling journey of discovery about maternity care in the US through the lens of doctors and nurses who attend birth in the hospital, but choose to have their own children at home. Through a balance of personal stories and the latest research, "Why Not Home?" challenges viewers to move beyond polarization and judgment and question what is possible for the future of maternity care.

Herself
This is yet another telling of the adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn as the two try to clear their friend Jim of murder charges.