It is Christmas Day and the Public Maternity Hospital in Manila is abuzz with pregnant mothers of all shapes and sizes in different stages of labour. We experience the fate of the dominantly Catholic Filipino women, denied of contraceptive and in a constant state of pregnancy, often unwanted. Sarah, whose character is played by a professional actress Diana Zubiri, works here as a diligent nurse. Her own narrative of overwork, underpay, unplanned pregnancy, non-supporting boyfriend and a desire to work as a nurse in Canada, weaves easily with other fictional and documentary elements of the film, played by many non-actors besides some professional actors. The little details of the mother, whose breasts have gone dry, to the expectant mother on leave from prison, cover a large canvas of how life unfolds in this overcrowded ward. Scripted as a docu-drama, with mostly real situations and real people, the film uses available light and is shot such that the space looks very much like a busy factory of babies.

Screenings:
29.07.2012 19:15
Siri Fort 4
04.08.2012 16:30
Siri Fort 3