Waiting time

“Waiting Time” is a reflection on birth, on what it means to be a parent today, and on the path that turns a woman into a mother and the psychological and cultural aspects of this journey.The film travels into the lives of these women who come together in a circle and remain connected, as creating a community becomes a genuine need.

When I discovered I was pregnant, it felt as if everyone had an opinion and a truth about the right things to do. I found myself directed down a path that had been decided by others for me, based on what appeared to be customs and standardized practices, as well as the choices made by the other women in my family. I wondered if there could be another, more personal way to navigate the complete upheaval I was experiencing. It was from this “search” of mine that this film was born. I contacted a midwife, Teresa De Pascale, who scheduled a meeting with me at Bosco di Capodimonte, where she held weekly prenatal meetings. I took some photos: a circle of pregnant women under a magnolia tree, with an older woman among them, listening and sharing her experiences. Only later I realized that this way of building a community was a revolutionary act and a mission for Teresa. Giving birth was the most incredible experience of my life, and participating in these meetings allowed me to experience pregnancy and childbirth as an opportunity for personal growth. Gradually, my fear transformed into awareness and a great strength that was invaluable in facing the transformation I was going through.