Trailer for “Before the Breath”
Propublica’s special documentary, Before A Breath, will be directed by Nadia Sussman and will host its YouTube premiere on Thursday, March 20th at 8pm.
“Before the Breath” is the soft, infuriating, and ultimately hopeful tale of three mothers striving to kill their child and make their pregnancy safer. The film explores the shared experiences of thousands of American families, with more than 20,000 stills occurring each year. At least a quarter of these losses are probably preventable.
After the death of her daughter, Debbie Heine Vijayverziya goes to Washington. She finds herself fighting fierce political inertia to fight to pass the fall act, the autumn act, named after her stillbirth child. Maternal health advocate Kanika Harris takes the change into her hand, telling the story of her lost twins Kodjo and Zindzi, as she trains a new generation of black birth workers. When we meet Stephanie Lee, a nurse administrator in Manhattan, the interests to make birth safer take the ultimate leap of faith while seeking answers about her daughter Elodie’s stillbirth. We follow her as she prepares to give birth again. Under the care of the Rainbow Clinic in Mount Sinai, we provide professional care to parents who have experienced these losses.
Inspired by the groundbreaking report from Pulitzer Prize finalist Duaa Eldeib, the film sheds light on the aftermath of stillbirth.
“Before the Breath” is also distributed by the WNET group. This film was produced by Propublica. Executive produced by Almudena Toral and produced by Sussman, Lisa Riordan Seville and Liz Moughon. He is also the director of photography. Edited by Margaret Cheetham Williams and additional edits by Mahdauct Mahmaudabadi.
Where and how to see it
After the film debut on YouTube on Thursday, March 20th, “Before A Breath” can be streamed on Propublica’s YouTube channel and on YouTube.com/ThirteenWnet and Thirteen.org. There will also be many free screenings at films and other venues across the country.
Join us for a virtual discussion about movies
Join Eastern on Wednesday, April 2nd at 4pm to welcome the film’s main participants in a panel discussion with filmmakers and share powerful insights and experiences surrounding the death crisis. Reporter Duaa Eldave and director Nadia Sussman will be joined by Kanica Harris, Stephanie Lee, Debbie Haina Vijayverziya and Dr. Joan Stone, founders of Mount Sinai Rainbow Clinic.
