(Via WireService.ca) Milk, a documentary by Noemi Weis, will have its world premiere at Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival in Toronto on April 27th. The film explores the challenges faced by mothers in both the first and third worlds over seemingly natural processes — giving birth and feeding their babies.
Marketing of infant formula to mothers in developing countries has been an issue for many years, but the story doesn’t end there. As director/producer Noemi Weis says, “You can’t talk about infant feeding without talking about birth.” Milk looks at disturbing trends, from poor women who feed their children coffee whitener because they believe they can’t breastfeed, to the worldwide rise of c-sections and other surgical interventions in birth, which has contributed to a rise in bottle feeding. (La Leche League Canada explains that interventions during childbirth can interfere with breastfeeding, hormonally and through physical stress,though all the causes and effects are not yet clear.)
A press release states: “Milk brings a universal perspective on the politics, commercialization and controversies surrounding birth and infant feeding over the canvas of stunningly beautiful visuals and poignant voices from around the globe.”
Noemi Weis made her directorial debut working on Abuelas – about the political activism of grandmothers whose loved ones disappeared during Argentina’s “dirty war” – which won the Jury Award at the International Festival of Cinema Politico in Buenos Aires.
Milk will have its World Premiere at Hot Docs April 27 at 6:30pm at Isabel Bader Theatre.
Get a glimpse behind the scenes below.