Ricki Lake

This is a personal documentary tackling the controversial debate between at-home and hospital births in the United States. It contains shocking facts (illuminating to both men and women alike), regard...( read more  read more... )ing the historical and current practices of the child-birthing industry. The chronicle is interwoven with footage of married couples opting for home childbirth.

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87% liked it

6,406 ratings

Critics

80% liked it

25 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 27 min.

Directed by: Abby Epstein

Release Date: January 9, 2008

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DVD Release Date: May 6, 2008

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Flixster Reviews (340)


  • August 30, 2009
    Wow. This movie makes me so glad I don't have to have kids. I'm already a fan of natural birth and a opponent of most of the medical profession, but this movie didn't do the best job ever of bringing these points to light. It could have focused more on facts about child birth ...( read more)and hospitals, but instead it focused on crap like some french dude talking about how hospital mothers don't care about their babies because they didn't hold them afterward. P.S. I'm scarred for life after seeing Riki Lake give birth. Yikes. So graphic...
  • May 14, 2008
    Very eye-opening. Wonderfully done.
  • March 18, 2008
    The first half constitutes an interesting and highly important documentary / public service announcement. The second half, for better or for worse, loses the documentary overtones and decides to follow its subjects without much exposition or explanation, essentially taking the vi...( read more)ewer on a ride to witness what natural births actually are.

    A bit disjointed, and because of its odd decision to stop discussing the actual topic half-way through, instead just following the birthing process, it doesn't feel like it manages to cover the entire issue... as if it just didn't really finish the point, and meandered off somewhere.

    Still, good film for anyone interested in the subject... and a must see for anyone who feels like the subject isn't worth their time... well, the first 45 minutes, anyway.
  • December 3, 2008
    Very interesting. I learned a lot. Anyone planning to have a baby should watch this.
  • April 11, 2009
    A very well done documentary. I was impressed with the material presented. Very informative.
  • December 30, 2008
    Highly recommend this film.. expresses the real aspects of child birth, gives a good alternative to the tradiational hospital birth optiions.. would recommend.
  • December 15, 2008
    no thanks not my thing
  • October 2, 2008
    Excellent film, although I didn't think it showed enough of the hospital experience outside of NYC. Still, almost converted my mom into midwife thinking.
  • September 28, 2008
    Incredibly informational.
  • August 30, 2008
    A documentary with an eye opening look of the cash crop that should have NEVER been.This film shows that although we have moved leaps and bounds from the unreal barbaric Labor and delivery rooms of the 20's and 30's advancing but maybe in the wrong direction.In the U.S. it is no ...( read more)longer about what is safe and best for Mom and baby,its about get em' in and get em' out.Like a factory,and how much drugs are pushed on laboring women (whether they want it or not) to help speed that process along.I was really shocked by alot that I saw.Also this movie shows that C-section births are now more than 1-3 births,If that is not a jaw dropper alone.It's now become the norm to completely remove the womanhood and natural process completely from the mother of the birth experience.Anyway its been 15 years since I have been in a delivery room,and lucky enough with both boys to never need a C-section.Ladies,If you are pregnant or already a mom you will appreciate this film that none other than Ricki Lake has put together,very well done.You might even need a few tissues,I guarantee,seeing all those sweet little newborns will take each and every one of you right back to the moment you first looked into the eyes of your little one.=)

Critic Reviews


February 29, 2008
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

Important viewing for anyone contemplating a birth plan. full review

January 9, 2008
Nick Schager, Slant Magazine

A supposed investigation into America's attitude toward childbirth, The Business of Being Born quickly turns into a propaganda piece for midwifery before closing on a fortuitously complex note. full review

View more The Business of Being Born reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

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