midwives – ALLIANCE OF WOMEN FILM JOURNALISTS

THE DELIVERY LINE (Hot Docs 2026) – Review by Rachel West

April 30, 2026May 7, 2026 Rachel West afghanistan, colombia, documentary, Hot Docs, mexico, midwives, Nance Ackerman, nigeria canada, The Delivery Line

Pregnancy and childbirth are often joyous, but they can also be marked by stress, health risks, and uncertainty— especially for those facing poverty, crime, climate change, war, and migration. For many, midwives are the ones guiding them through it. In The Delivery Line, director Nance Ackerman profiles five midwives working on the frontlines, from makeshift tents on the US-Mexico border to remote villages in Afghanistan. The film is an unflinching yet compassionate look at the realities of giving birth around the world. It follows five women who support and advocate for their communities. Blending traditional and modern practices, they bring care and dignity to some of the most challenging environments.

Reviews

AMERICAN DELIVERY – Review by Lois Alter Mark

April 24, 2025 Lois Alter Mark American Delivery, carolyn jones, childbirth, documentary, health care, midwives, pregnancy

In case you weren’t already outraged about the state of women’s healthcare, along comes American Delivery, a powerhouse documentary that reminds you that the United States is the most dangerous place in the affluent world to give birth. Pregnancy and childbirth kill two women a day in the US, the only country where the maternal mortality rate is rising rather than falling. In fact, it’s 10 times higher here than in Europe, with one third of American counties considered maternity care deserts. Anyone who has the power to make decisions about women’s healthcare should be required to watch American Delivery first. Childbirth is supposed to be a celebration of new life, not a high-stakes game of life and death.