WXFF 2020: Lauren Anders Brown
In this interview, we talk to Lauren Anders Brown, director of the moving documentary, A Midwife’s Oath which is a part of our Redefining Belonging strand at Women X. Here, she talks to us about what she is currently working on, and documenting humanitarian issues through the lens of people in the situations.
Tell us about yourself and the work you do
LAB: I am a documentary director, I’ve filmed in over 40 countries focusing on humanitarian issues, global health, and human rights with a particular focus on women’s rights.
What is your proudest moment of your career so far?
LAB: I’ve had one of my films Shanti Khana, on the Rohingya refugee crisis screen at Cannes in 2019 and was introduced by Ban Ki Moon earlier this year at a screening for World Refugee Day. But I think one of my proudest moments was a quieter one, when one of my short films was shown at the UN General Assembly and, immediately following that session, a decision was made by the government of Jordan to continue their partnership for maternal health services.
What themes do you want to explore in your future work?
LAB: I want to explore planetary health: the concept that the health of the planet is related to our personal health.
Why was this a subject that you wanted to document?
LAB: Understanding migration and refugees has been an ongoing interest for me for some time. In 2015 I attended the Refugee Studies Centre at the University of Oxford to learn from academics and people in the field more about the issues facing migrants and refugees. Health is something that is inherent to us all, and so telling the stories of both has become something of a speciality for me.
How did you go about finding women to interview for this documentary?
LAB: For this project, I get to give full credit to Clara Long the woman who brought me on to capture this film. She pushed to go out to Azraq in advance to find a strong story for us to film later. She didn’t find just one but three amazing women to film with, who welcomed us in with their hearts to their homes and shared with us their honest journeys.
What do you hope that the audience takes away from learning about these women’s stories?
LAB: I felt so at home with Rasha, Basma, and Reyhab, like they were my own sisters or aunts. I would love the audience to take away the similarities we all possess, the priority of healthcare in the lives of migrants, and the commitment healthcare workers make in these challenging situations.
What was the process of getting permission to film at Azraq Refugee Camp like? Did you encounter any difficulties?
LAB: Getting permissions to film in any refugee camp can be challenging, Azraq was definitely one of the more delicate situations I have been in. After the official paperwork was submitted and approved, we still encountered issues upon arrival and delays in filming. But, as most things in the Middle East, all was sorted with some time spent over a cup of coffee with cardamom with a few officials. You can hear more about it in the first episode of my podcast I Am My Own Correspondent.
What three things do you always have on your bedside table?
LAB: My bedside table can be my home in London or a mission base in South Sudan, but always on my bedside table are my phones (I carry more than one), a cup of good coffee made from one of my many coffee accessories at home or a travel press when in the field, and a good book usually related to a project I’m working on. Currently I have The Sympathiser by Viet Thanh Nguyen.
Tell us three things you're grateful for?
LAB: My family- especially my father who has supported my career from the beginning and my partner who has always believed in me, the post-production people I work with who really make my work the best it can be, and my dog Paddington.
What are you working on at the moment/next?
LAB: I am finishing a 5 episode documentary series called When The Shifts Change, on essential workers in NYC during COVID-19, that’s premiering at the Global Health Film Festival 2020; a documentary on Syrian Identity called ANONYMOUS SYRIA; and my first audio documentary revising the history of the Vietnam War while understanding intergenerational trauma called The War Less Travelled.
