Cinematic Sisterhood: Arrest the Midwife
With rare access to an intensely private community, Arrest the Midwife exposes the rural healthcare desert created by restrictive maternal health policies. The film tells the story of criminalized midwives, and the Amish and Mennonite women who defy tradition to advocate for bodily autonomy and reproductive justice.
We view this story as a catalyst for broader conversations on inequities in reproductive health by shining a light on racial disparities, restrictive regulations, and systemic barriers that women face here in greater Milwaukee and beyond. It calls us to consider how advocacy, policy reform, and community action can expand access to care.
The screening will be followed by a filmmaker Q&A and a discussion on documentary ethics:
- Elaine Epstein, director of Arrest the Midwife
- Julie Forrest Wyman, director of The Tallest Dwarf
Click here to read press release about the partnership between the Women’s Fund and Milwaukee Film.
Presented by:
Milwaukee Film
Sponsored by:
Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee
Friday, September 19, 2025
5 p.m. Networking
5:30 p.m. Film + Panel Discussion
More to Come:
This series continues through January 2026, including this special screening during the Dialogues Documentary Festival and a fall tribute to a pioneering woman director.