In the obstetrics and gynecology department of a French hospital, the whole of life passes by, from the conception of new life—sometimes unplanned, sometimes aided by the most modern techniques—through pregnancies and births, hormonal issues, and diseases such as endometriosis and cancer, to the inevitable final phase of life: death.
With a small female crew, Claire Simon spent long periods in the wards and consultation rooms. With patience and compassion, they succeeded in capturing the emotions and complexities of the hospital. We see the patience or frustration of doctors dealing with difficult conversations, carefully seeking a balance between medical facts and empathy. Already candid, the film gains an extra layer when Simon unexpectedly becomes a patient herself.
Whether about birth, illness or death, every patient’s story is both unique and universal. Simon shows them without introduction or context. As if to say, it doesn’t matter who exactly this patient is: these are our bodies.
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