These Are My Hours

These Are My Hours is an intimate, engaging, and transformative film from 2018, directed by Scott Kirschenbaum. Starring Emily Graham, Jason Graham, and Carey Glenn, this avant-garde documentary explores one of the universe's most fundamental events - the act of childbirth, through the lens of a single mother, Emily Graham.

The premise of the film is simple and profound, and it unfolds over the course of a single day - presenting the raw, unadulterated, and beautiful process of labor and delivery. Emily Graham, the lead character in this real-time documentary, takes center stage as she shares her journey through the birth of her fourth child. The camera follows Emily's every move, capturing the visceral and emotional experience of childbirth. This woman-centric film, through its portrayal of labor, humanizes the birthing process in a manner that is rarely seen on the silver screen and throws light on a woman's strength, resilience and the power of creation that she holds within her.

Her husband, Jason Graham, offers hearty support, and their midwife, Carey Glenn, provides professional help when needed. However, the narrative remains staunchly centered around Emily, her experiences, her emotions, and her internal journey. It's a story about birth, but it is also about the beautiful and moving transformation that a woman goes through in the process, crossing over from pregnancy to motherhood.

These Are My Hours is a deeply personal and emotional adventure that challenges conventional portrayals of childbirth in mainstream media, one that often over-sensationalizes the process with dramatics. This portrayal brings birth back to its organic roots, showcasing the primal and animalistic journey that it is. It frames Emily's domestic and intimate setting, translating the every-day living room and bathroom into sacred spaces of transformation. Her expressions of pain, relief, fear, and joy hit viewers in a viscerally shocking yet heartwarmingly familiar manner and leave them with a newfound respect for the process and the women who go through it.

Emily Graham herself delivers an exceptionally candid performance, wearing her heart on her sleeve for the duration of the film. Her choice to document such a private, emotionally charged and physically taxing event with such openness and vulnerability is truly commendable. Meanwhile, Jason Graham's supportive and respectful demeanor adds a wholesome, loving touch to the entire narrative.

The director, Scott Kirschenbaum, employs a unique style, crafting a non-fiction, dialogue-less feature that tells its story through beautiful cinematography and powerful visuals instead. The film progresses through a series of intensifying scenes, each more raw and engaging than the last. The visual storytelling is further complimented by a background score that oscillates between soothing melodies and atmospheric sounds to magnify the emotional impact of each unfolding moment.

These Are My Hours is also an educational resource, making it a valuable watch for expectant mothers, families, medical professionals, and students. It also serves as a sensitizing tool for men to better understand the physical and emotional travails a woman goes through during childbirth. It is stark, at times challenging to watch, but ultimately a very rewarding experience. It's a story that will make you laugh, cry, wince, and most importantly, marvel at the incredible strength and resilience of women.

This documentary is a testament to the human spirit, showcasing our capacity to bear extraordinary pain, make sacrifices, and experience unparalleled joy through the act of creation. It is an ode to every woman who has had the gift and curse of experiencing childbirth and left the viewer wondering why we don't talk more about this raw, natural, and courageous act.

Overall, These Are My Hours is a groundbreaking film, more than a documentary, it is a manifesto on childbirth and a tribute to motherhood that promises to leave an everlasting impact long after you have finished watching.