Midwives

A compelling and hopeful insight into the turbulence leading up to the 2021 coup.

This is a dark reminder that even childbirth, that most universal human experience, can be clouded by sectarianism and suspicion.

The situation in Myanmar remains tense and ethnic cleansing continues, yet Snow Hnin finds grace notes of optimism to offset the bitterness of the film’s backdrop. It makes Midwives a thoughtful, empathetic and powerful insight into the region – and its women.

A small-scale, covert glimpse of the lives led behind the headlines.

Midwives partially plays like a feature film, especially in its second half, when it takes a more contemplative approach with emotional “slice of life sequences” and moves swiftly across years with touches of humour.

This is a compassionate and educational look into a conflict-ridden area and the women and children suffering at its centre.