Breastmilk

Breastmilk, scripted by Dana Ben-Ari and executive produced by notable names including actress/filmmaker Ricki Lake and director Abby Epstein, is a groundbreaking 2014 documentary that’s as provocative as its title. It explores an essential aspect of motherhood—breastfeeding, but from a perspective that few other films do. It does not signify breastfeeding as just 'natural' or 'easy', instead, it digs deep into the societal, cultural, emotional, and psychological complexities that accompany the process.

The film opens with expecting mothers sharing their anxieties, expectations, and dreams about their forthcoming journey into motherhood. From the outset itself, Breastmilk becomes a narrative that goes beyond the medical benefits of breastfeeding. It stitches together the stories of diverse mothers and their experiences and fears about colostrum, latching on, pumping, tongue ties, mastitis, and more.

Breastmilk presents multiple narratives to bring light to the various challenges and experiences that come with breastfeeding. It captures different breastfeeding paths: mothers who breastfeed their babies with ease, mothers who struggle with breastfeeding despite all efforts, mothers who cannot breastfeed due to medical issues, mothers who exclusively pump their milk, and even fathers who share their involvement and responses to the breastfeeding process.

Yet, even though it delves into individuality in breastfeeding, remarkably, the film never becomes judgmental. Breastmilk is not an instructional video about how to breastfeed. It doesn’t argue exclusively for breastfeeding over formula, nor does it aim to provide solutions for breastfeeding problems. The film instead highlights the diversity in experiences, successfully steering clear of the 'one-size-fits-all' approach borne out of societal norms or pressures.

The film stands out in its acknowledgment and discussion of the intersectionality of breastfeeding. It showcases stories from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and family structures. Not confined to the conventional mother-father-baby construct, Breastmilk includes a lesbian couple and a gay man, bringing to the foreground the conversations about LGBTQ+ parents and breastfeeding, which are often overlooked. They share their unique experiences and challenges around induced lactation and donated breast milk.

The documentary also provides unflinching commentary on healthcare institutions' role, current labor laws, and societal norms. It questions the indirect pressures imposed by society and the medical establishment on mothers regarding how their baby should be nourished. It delves into essential aspects such as the lack of maternity leave and the limited support provided to nursing mothers in the United States, which greatly influence breastfeeding success.

Breastmilk is enlivened by interviews with medical professionals, lactation consultants, academics, and activists, which provide a 360-degree perspective on breastfeeding. These specialists' insights based on scientific and medical knowledge accompany the stories, forming an enriching, multi-layered narrative. The experts dispel myths, discuss taboos, and address the science behind breast milk, such as how the composition of breast milk changes to meet the baby's needs.

The documentary is raw, intimate, and candid. It doesn’t shy away from showing the physicality of breastfeeding. Breastmilk features ample footage of babies nursing, mothers pumping, and close-ups of engorged breasts, cracked nipples, and babies latching on and off. Instead of sexualizing or sensationalizing the breast, the camera normalizes it as a feeding organ, encouraging the demystification of breastfeeding.

Breastmilk, with its intimate storytelling and inclusive content, manages to offer a nuanced and comprehensive view of an essential part of human biology and motherhood. It is an insightful exploration into a topic that's often wrongly simplified by polarized debates. Shedding light on the emotional, sociocultural, and physical aspects of breastfeeding, it serves as more than just a documentary; it is a support platform for sharing experiences, building understanding, and facilitating informed conversations about breastfeeding. The film’s primary success is its authoritative assertion that diverse and personalized breastfeeding experiences are valid and should be supported.