Some called it Burma, others Myanmar. Most won't find it on the map. Whilst Ukraine dominates Western media, Myanmar is almost forgotten, left to suffer under a cruel military regime whilst civil war is their sad but best hope.

As with wars everywhere, they've little to do with the majority, the average person seeking to feed their family and daring to dream of a better future.

Similarly, the hatred of Muslims in Myanmar is driven by politicians and a political military, not the general Public.

Enter a village where there was peace between Buddhists and Muslims yet now Buddhists are forced to alienate Muslims lest they be killed as supporters of the 'enemy'. Yet a Buddhist midwife is training a Muslim women in her trade.

The documentary isn't a narration nor a Hollywood spectacle. It's a slow fly on the wall observing silent desperation, the poor plight of women whilst living with fear. It also shows the complicated relationship between the two women, as human in its contradictions as it is anywhere else in the world.

I highly recommend that it be watched as a double-feature with 'A Thousand Fires', also released this year. That shows the life of an impoverished, illegal oil mining family in the same country.

Saw this back at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival

"Midwives" is directed by Hnin Ei Hlaing and it's a story about two midwives, one Buddhist and one Muslim, who both defy strict ethnic divisions to work side by side in a makeshift clinic in western Myanmar, providing medical services to the Rohingya of Rakhine State. The presentation is very well shot, some really interesting moments about culture and religion presented throughout this story. However Hlaing really seems to like to focus more on going around places with the camera and the structure of the documentary is really lacking and lazy. The conversations between the participants at points felt like they don't wanna be there and the information provided sometimes feels there is moments that are missing.

I ended up feeling bored when watching documentary and almost skipped through but I kept on going because I hoped that maybe something may improve my viewing. However, it didn't really offer much so needless to say, it was kind of boring.

Rating: C+