Shot from MILK (Documentary) 2015.
Stuffed with inspiring footage of childbirth and lactation around the world, this rather preachy film believes breast is best. It would seem an unnecessary message for any audience that is likely to view Milk, but apparently there's still education to be done.
About halfway, director Noemi Weis belatedly reveals that the infant-formula manufacturers are up to their old tricks. The most shocking story is about formula donated to the Philippines after the 2014 typhoon without regard for whether the recipients were bottle-feeding already. Mothers would use up a free three-month supply and then be left without any means of feeding their babies.
Milk has many stories to tell – several of which, such as the rebirth of wet nursing and the establishment of human milk banks, would make good docs in their own right – but Weis relies on earnest health officials to connect the dots between such topics as maternity-leave policies and the failure to breastfeed. In the end, Milk has much material but no clear theme.
Kate Taylor