I was worried I'd come across a "granola" take on pregnancy, culminating in the glorification of home births. It was anything but. Doula is an intelligent film. The characters are real in their depth of feeling, and Troian Bellisario is a tour de force, occupying the screen in a raw, tender, and relatable way. How do you deal with all the pressure coming your way when you are pregnant? How do you ensure your partner feels involved while maintaining your autonomy of decision? How do you sort through all that advice when you're the only one who is pregnant and risking your life to give birth? As someone trained in public/reproductive health, I can tell the Doula team did its research, and the conclusion is spot on! This is not your mainstream Hollywood depiction of pregnancy and childbirth. With reproductive rights being eroded at lightning speed, Doula is timely. I highly recommend it!
