Part of Doc Spotlight.
French documentary titan Claire Simon observes the everyday operations of the gynecological ward in a public hospital in Paris. In the process, she questions what it means to live in a woman’s body, filming the diversity, singularity and beauty of patients in all stages of life. Through these many encounters, the specific fears, desires and struggles of these individuals become the health challenges we all face, even the filmmaker herself. In the tradition of Frederick Wiseman, this stunning and poignant look at the spectrum — from birth to death — of women’s experiences within hospital walls is as relevant as it is revelatory.
“Simon’s belief in the interconnectedness yet singularity of the varied patients is palpable. She rewards our patience with a deeper understanding of our bodies and ourselves.” —Lisa Kennedy, Critic’s Pick, New York Times “It’s right there in the title: Claire Simon’s stunningly personal documentary OUR BODY might generally be about her own health journey, but it’s really fixated on the communal experience of occupying a female body. Our body.” —Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire "Simon’s nonjudgmental, empathetic curiosity is the film’s great strength. But it’s also shocking that still now, in 2023, it can be such a revelation, as women, to see OUR BODY portrayed without sexualization and without stigmatization — without, in a word, shame." —Jessica Kiang, Variety "A stirring testament to the complexities of inhabiting a corporeal form. In the face of resurgent attacks on bodily autonomy around the world, OUR BODY is an urgent and political project." —Lovia Gyarkye, Hollywood Reporter
