MIDWIVES

US, 2002, 92 minutes, Colour.
Sissy Spacek, Peter Coyote, Terry Kinney, Alison Pill, Susanna Hoffman, Piper Laurie.
Directed by Glenn Jordan.

Midwives is an interesting film about a middle-aged woman who has given her life as a midwife in a small provincial town. She is admired by everyone. Her husband is a respected architect. She has a fourteen-year-old daughter. When one of her clients dies in childbirth, the family trapped by snow and ice in the family home and the mother collapsing, the midwife decides to use a knife and a C-section to save the child. She is later prosecuted for negligence with a post-mortem indicating that the mother was alive during the C-section.

The film paints a portrait of the midwife and her family. With Sissy Spacek as the midwife, the film has a strong central character. Alison Pill (The King) is her daughter who plays a crucial role in the court case. Terry Kinney is supportive as her husband. Peter Coyote is the lawyer. Piper Laurie is a noisy neighbour.

The film focuses on the preparation for the court case, the elaboration of the trial. The witnesses give interesting information which is cross-examined by the defence and its shortcomings noted.

The film ends, as might be expected, with the vindication of the midwife. However, her daughter had taken two pages from her diary which were submitted in evidence, reflections by the midwife that she was not so sure the next day as she was when she began the procedure.

This raises moral issues of truth and integrity – a lesson which the midwife wants to instil in her daughter. The film is similar in its plot with the Lee Remick film, Jessie.

The film was directed by Glenn Jordan who had a long career in television with such films as Les Miserables and The Family Man and The Women’s Room in the 1970s. He had some success with films for cinemas like Only When I Laugh, The Buddy System and Mass Appeal. However, during the 80s and 90s he made a great number of significant telemovies including The Boys, Sarah Plain and Tall, Barbarians at the Gate, A Streetcar Named Desire.

1. The impact of this kind of telemovie? For the home audience? Portrait of a good woman? Crises? Trials and court cases? The overall impact?

2. The town, the winter setting for Sybil and her work? The ensuing months, the preparation for the trial? Homes, courtrooms? Authentic atmosphere? Musical score?

3. The title, the focus on birth, difficulties? The midwife and home birth? The medical profession and their observation of the skills of midwives – and the criticisms? The comments by some of the witnesses in the trial? The human support that the midwife gives? The challenge to midwives by this kind of trial?

4. The voice-over by Connie, the fourteen-year-old girl, her observations of her mother, the situation? Listening in to the adult conversations? Her support for her mother, her wariness of the lawyer, the bonding with her father? At school and the children’s taunts? Sensible for her age, the frank and mature discussions with her mother? Reading her mother’s diary – and the moral decision to take out the two pages where her mother expressed doubt? Reinserting them? Sybil’s response to this, Connie’s adult views on what had happened and why she did it? Her choice of a medical career and her working with pregnancy and birth?

5. Sybil, a good woman, love for her husband, for her daughter? Being very busy – and the husband feeling it? Trying to get time with her daughter, driving her to sport, concern about her boyfriends? Her dedication to her work, with Charlotte and her husband? The difficulty of the birth, getting the car, it subsiding in the snow sludge? Being trapped in the house? The decision to induce the birth, Charlotte’s collapse, Sybil judging that she had died? The decision then to save the child, getting the knife? This being quoted against her? Anne and her support – and the later testimony against her, the husband’s testimony against her? Her surprise at her being charged? The result of the autopsy? The decision to get the lawyer, the discussions with him? Her knees being photographed for evidence of the snow and the difficulties? Her strong-mindedness, writing in her diary? Her conduct in the court? Her being found not guilty? Her pondering, seeing that Connie had taken the pages out of the diary? Her discussions with her? Her continuing to help as a midwife – but giving it up? Her losing her confidence?

6. The portrait of Sybil’s husband, his work, feeling neglected, yet supportive, his understanding his daughter, wary of her boyfriend? His sensible talks to her about how Sybil was feeling during the trial? A good man?

7. Stephen Hastings, a good lawyer, listening to the situation, giving sound advice, being present with Sybil? Attracted to her? His work in the court case, the cross-examinations, bringing out the weaknesses of arguments? His victory – but not staying around?

8. The trial, the witnesses, Anne and her outburst about Sybil? Her inadequacy? Acer, the memory of his wife, his grief, his changing his testimony? The various doctors, opinions, the doctor against midwives? Whether Charlotte was dead or not, the evidence about her blood?

9. Acer, as a man of God, love for his wife, his grief, Sybil saving a son for him?

10. The friends and neighbours, their concern, their support? Cheryl Visco and her loud style, support? The celebration after the trial?

11. The film and its support of intelligent amateurs, those who bring a human face to medical issues? The dilemma about training and experience? The role of the law – and the viciousness of prosecution? Vindication?