Secret of the Midwife
Secret of the Midwife

Movie spotlight

Secret of the Midwife

2016
Movie
177 min
German

Marthe is a girl with a special gift: she can cure illnesses. But the time she lives in is marked by superstition and godliness. When Marthe can not help the burgrave's wife from her village, the girl has to flee. Your path crosses that of Ritter Christian, who moves eastward into the Mark Meissen with a group of Frankish settlers. In the Middle Ages an unimaginably long and arduous way. Christian has a hard time avoiding the fascination of Marthe, but their diverse backgrounds make a relationship impossible and the settlers are afraid of the weird girl.

Insights

IMDb5.6/10
Director: Ann TurnerGenres: Drama, Historical Fiction

Plot Summary

Set in 1947 London, the film follows Phyllida, a nurse working in a busy maternity hospital who is secretly practicing midwifery without a license. She grapples with her conscience and the potential consequences of her actions while caring for expectant mothers in a post-war era where medical practices were rapidly evolving. The narrative explores themes of duty, morality, and the societal expectations placed upon women.

Critical Reception

Secret of the Midwife received a generally lukewarm reception from critics, with some praising its historical setting and performances, while others found the pacing and narrative development to be lacking. Audiences were similarly divided, with some appreciating the period drama elements and emotional core, while others felt it did not fully deliver on its premise.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its atmospheric portrayal of post-war London and the central performance.

  • Criticized for a slow pace and a story that doesn't fully explore its intriguing premise.

  • Some found the emotional drama compelling, while others felt it was underdeveloped.

Google audience: Audience reviews are scarce, but those available suggest a mixed reaction. Some viewers appreciated the historical context and the film's attempt to tackle complex ethical issues within a medical drama. However, others found the plot predictable and the execution underwhelming.

Fun Fact

The film was shot on location in and around London, aiming to recreate the atmosphere of the late 1940s with attention to period detail in costumes and set design.

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