Born Free: Birth in America

Name: Born Free: Birth in America
Director: Paula James Martinez
Released: 2022

Paula James Martinez 2022

Filmmaker Paula James Martinez travels across the United States to understand what makes it the most dangerous and expensive nation to give birth in. From heartbreaking personal stories and harrowing facts to perspectives of experts both in the medical and legal fields, BORN FREE shines a light on the true cost of giving birth in the US.

The film invites every American to start a conversation about the state of maternal health.

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Running Time:

95 min.

Spoken Languages:

English

Subtitles:

English

Directors:

Paula James Martinez

Producers:

Paula James Martinez, Rebecca Dayan, Stephanie Perez, Lianne Turner, Sara Ojjeh, Anthony James-Martinez, Vanessa Hope, Robert F. Profusek, Claire Olshan

Cinematographers:

Seannie Bryan

Editors:

Steph Zenee Perez

Production Companies:

Moon Cookie Films

Press

insider

ilmmaker Paula James-Martinez didn't set out to become a maternal health activist. Then she got pregnant. As a Brit who'd moved to the US to work in women's magazines, she encountered various issues when pregnant with her daughter, Luna. Lots of things didn't make sense to her. Like, why is the US maternal mortality rate at its highest today since 1965, with 32.9 deaths per 100,000 live births? Why are Black birthing people four times more likely to die from childbirth complications than white people? And why do things keep getting worse?

Jennifer Barton

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