Snow Hnin Ei Hlaing
2022
Hla and Nyo Nyo live in a country torn by conflict. Hla is a Buddhist and the owner of a makeshift medical clinic in western Myanmar, where the Rohingya (a Muslim minority community) are persecuted and denied basic rights. Nyo Nyo is a Muslim and an apprentice midwife who acts as an assistant and translator at the clinic. Her family has lived in the area for generations, yet they are still considered intruders. Encouraged and challenged by Hla, who risks her own safety daily by helping Muslim patients, Nyo Nyo is determined to become a steady health care provider for her community. Snow Hnin Ei Hlaing’s remarkable feature debut was filmed over five turbulent years in a country that has long been exoticized and misunderstood. The filmmaker’s gentle, impartial gaze grants unique access to these courageous women who unite to bring forth life. Filled with love, empathy, and hope, MIDWIVES offers a rare insight into the complex reality of Myanmar and its people.
CREDITS
Special Jury Prize for Excellence in Verité Filmmaking Sundance Film Festival
Vaclav Havel Jury Special Jury Award at One World Film Festival
Asian Competition Grand Prize, DMZ Docs
NEXT Award, DMZ Docs
Jury Award for the Best Documentary, Indie Meme
Nominee for Best Documentary Film Independent Spirit Awards
❛ Amidst chaos and violence, we get to see a glimpse of hope, courage, and dreams. ❜
— Golden Globes
❛ It's a surprising story of female self-determination in the face of militaristic oppression, directed with a rigor that demonstrates the resilience of both the filmmaker and her subjects. ❜
— Dawn Porter Filmaker, Sundance Film Festival
❛ Snow Hnin Ei Hlaing’s film finds hope amid painful scenes of tension, conflict and prejudice. ❜
— BFI
❛ candid, visually sumptuous [...] inspiring celebration of these two unbreakable women ❜
— Roger Ebert.com