THE STORY – As their midwives are arrested, the Amish and Mennonite women of upstate New York break from their traditions as an insular community to become unexpected activists, fighting for systemic change.
THE CAST – N/A
THE TEAM – Elaine Epstein (Director)
THE RUNNING TIME – 82 Minutes
Since the modernization of medical institutions in the early 1900s and the birthing transition from homes to hospitals, more maternity care deserts have emerged in the U.S. The mortality rate is steadily increasing in communities with no birth centers, no certified midwives, and no obstetrician-gynecologist (OBGYN) care. As voiced in Elaine Epstein’s stirring documentary “Arrest the Midwife,” 36% of U.S. counties are maternity care deserts, and Yates County, NY is one of them. For Amish and Mennonite women in this county, the most important work of their life is raising children. Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) have been helping families pass down homebirth from generation to generation. Following the shocking arrest of one midwife, the religious community breaks tradition and mobilizes into an unexpected court and community rebellion. “Arrest the Midwife” opens typically closed doors to highlight the urgent fight for women’s reproductive rights.
“Arrest the Midwife” has a slightly disorientating introduction with glimpses into the life of midwife Elizabeth “Liz” Catlin, moments before her arrest. Catlin’s CPM training is recognized in 37 states, but not in New York, where she had been attending births and practicing care. Catlin’s court case sparks much-needed conversations around the criminalization of midwifery in New York, including the higher rate of maternal mortality among Black women, as well as the economic incentives for medicine to shut down homebirth altogether. Catlin’s arrest produces a domino effect, in which more midwives start to become targeted and are faced with legal action. One midwife, Melissa, decides to open a new birthing center in Philadelphia for fear of operating in New York. Another midwife, Lissa, wrestles with whether or not to take a plea deal, which directly impacts where she can continue to practice. The question quickly becomes: Where does that leave the pregnant women of this community who rely on critical healthcare? Facing a maternal mortality crisis in a broken healthcare system, with predominantly men making legislative decisions, the community responds with words. Whether writing letters to newspapers, organizing testimonies for court visits, or simply talking about the subject with everyone around them, they realize what’s at stake if they don’t stand up and use their voices. Director Elaine Epstein establishes a great deal of trust in telling this story from Amish and Mennonite women’s perspectives, as these communities generally have an extremely deliberate approach to the use of technology. From the first few scenes of the documentary, it’s clear that Epstein has a lived-in focus and not an exploitative one.
Rather than use various landscape shots, or rely on interviews with people on the outside looking in, the documentary takes a more intimate approach. The viewer gets a sense of community by focusing on the interactions and conversations midwives are having, whether with one another or with the women they help. The majority of scenes take place in homes, at practices, or on virtual calls. The intimacy of these settings reveals numerous layered conversations and underlines the urgency of a worsening mortality crisis from a ground level. Some of these conversations lack a deeper examination and could have benefited from a longer runtime to include more intersectional women’s perspectives. Additionally, some information gets presented in a slightly limiting way, such as the occasional “PowerPoint slide” approach, or the use of animation at the beginning of the documentary.
Despite a few lapses in storytelling, the documentary maintains impact by focusing on three midwives – Liz, Melissa, and Lissa – as guides to navigating their community. The trio’s perspectives help inform Epstein’s direction on a narrative and visual level. Nothing is heavily stylized; everything is candid and speaks to the direct implications the criminalization of midwifery has on a community. One of the most resonating elements is witnessing how forthcoming many of these women are, and how they begin to engage in political activism, especially given the context of their traditionally private community. The very existence of this documentary underlines that the fight for women’s bodily autonomy is so much bigger than anyone’s discomfort about being filmed or speaking out. As voiced in the documentary, frustrations have well-overpowered discomfort at this point.
Through candid perspectives, rare footage, and a clear narrative intention, “Arrest the Midwife” fights with words to highlight the importance of women’s birthing rights. While subjects could have been explored a little more thoroughly, there is also a resonance to Epstein’s quieter, intimate approach. With the focus on midwives’ perspectives, the documentary powerfully shows how their arrests ignite an entire community to start speaking up and get to legislative work.
