Freedom For Birth (2012): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 2012, Freedom For Birth is a documentary film directed by Toni Harman, running about 58 minutes.

What it’s about. A documentary that re-frames Human Rights issues as the most pressing issue in childbirth today; calling for radical change to the world's maternity systems - this is the Mothers' Revolution. In many countries around the world, women are being denied the most basic human right of autonomy over their own bodies. They cannot choose how and where to give birth. Those that persist in their desire to have a normal, physiological birth are sometimes forced by judges to surrender to surgery or threatened with having their babies taken away by child welfare services. In many countries, if a woman wants to have a home birth supported by a midwife, those midwives face criminal prosecution. Some midwives, like Ágnes Geréb in Hungary, are even imprisoned. FREEDOM FOR BIRTH calls for radical reform to the world’s maternity systems so that these Human Rights violations stop and women are afforded real choice as to how and where they give birth.

Who’s in it. Freedom For Birth stars Sheila Kitzinger as Self, Ina May Gaskin as Self, Michel Odent as Self and Ágnes Geréb as Self, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 7.0/10, Freedom For Birth has been warmly received by audiences.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Freedom For Birth page.

If you liked it. Fans of Freedom For Birth tend to enjoy One Direction: This Is Us, Burn the Stage: The Movie, BTS World Tour: Love Yourself - Japan Edition and Senna.