as for the namibian babies - I really loved the fun the mamas had, with each other and their children, and once I got over the fact that they were sitting bare-assed in the dirt all the time, I found their lives to appear so carefree, fun and loving... the absence of men was striking, however, and i do wonder how representative they are of namibians in general. Actually, I quit a very secure, good paying I.T. Didn't have any interest in seeing the movie, but now I do. Interesting! Thomas Balmes’s documentary is, indeed, catnip for mommy-and-grandma types: a beautifully shot vérité look at four infants around the world. "Babies" follows the first year in the life of four babies: Ponijao, from Opuwo, Namibia, Africa; Bayarjargal from Mongolia, Asia; Mari, from Tokyo, Japan; and Hattie from San Francisco, California. Although, the differences between the San Fran baby vs Mongolia and Africa were already amazing. I'm wondering if maybe the film was trying to show four "natural" ways of bringing up babies, but in four distinct cultures.In addition, I almost thought maybe it was a good message to show how a Western family can be (fairly) natural. Great review! And for the urban family, Tokyo sort of covered all bases. In some ways, it could have made the comparisons with the other cultures sharper. I just wanted to point out that the US baby was actually born at home and only transferred to the hospital because she was having breathing issues. His big brother is a bully, but he learns to stand on his own. They have different customs, to interact with different environment or stimuli. I'd love to see this movie just even to see a little bit of that gorgeous country again. She's better than my son in school. Congenital melanocytosis, previously known as Mongolian spots, is a very common condition in any part of the body of dark-skinned babies. Chronicling the day-to-day lives of four babies in four far-flung locations around the world -- Mongolia, Namibia, Japan, and California -- the film savors the wonders of the first year of life. It was not a Amazon Prime video, but well worth the rental fee. ... Scientists venture into the ways that walking changes a baby's world and unveil findings on neonatal reflexes, skeletal development and talking. Melodie: So true!Lisa C: I'd love to read your thoughts after you've seen it!Steven C: It is great that both parents have options like that, isn't it? @Adamina Good points! But … The film introduces us to Ponijao, Hattie, Bayar, and Mari as they’re born, play, cry and grow…. Mongolian Spots – When to Be Concerned and Seek Medical Care ? I really want to see this. I really enjoyed your write-up on this since I don't know if I will get to see it. Anyway, that stood out to me.Again, I so appreciate your viewpoint on it and I know I will be equally delighted to see different aspects of AP and non-AP approaches as they play out across the globe. I learned a lot from movie, and saw how each baby developed differently, varying from culture to culture. Baby Hattie of San Francisco gets a scrubdown in 'Babies.' "I'm thinking, 'Well, is somebody going to stop the cow?' There were no voice overs, only the voices of the parents or the sounds the babies made. You've added to my own thoughts about the movie. I would love to follow them for a year of schooling and see how their education differs. as for little Hattie, she was really the saddest for me. Babies, the movie: A review in four cultures, dress their babies in either pink or blue, Read more about my family and me here, and join the hobo parenting movement, Bilingual children's songs: A cheater's guide. She's in Oakland, California. Thanks for the review and the opportunity to post my thoughts. Some things made me laugh, like when Hattie hits her mother and the mother says something like, "Oo. ;), There are such a great many things I could say now, but I ave a dinner party coming up in 5 mins,let's say this very quickly* dads in Africa are more implicated in the childrens life than western dads, at least in ubanised africa and the masaai (which I think they were) are an extreme example of african society* Dani Arnold (informed parenting) has a great article on primal parenting about pygmees in Congo and violence I think I'll read this again slowly if ever I get the time and write some posts about this. For this documentary, they filmed at Sea World, San Diego, CA and Puget Sound, Washington. Afterwards, they were invited to discuss (with translators present, as needed) their feelings about this most unique component of their family history. Now maybe I'll have to go hunt it down! In some ways, I thought the tying to a chair leg was, as I said, sad, and in some ways, I realized maybe it was just like our use of playpens and bouncy seats and the like. mother resorts to a playpen so she can take a shower, but since it's on film it looks like This Is What Usually Happens. The film depicts the early life (first year) of the four babies from Namibia, Mongolia, Japan, and America. Well done movie... and just long enough. The Mongolian scenes sound like tear-jerkers for me as well and I literally found myself covering my mouth in shock as I read your words. She was born in Japan but has always been living in France. I'm pregnant now so hoping for the same for mine! Babies Analysis. I don't think you'll be depressed walking out, and frankly I'd be really interested to hear yours and anyone else's reactions to the movie, because now I'm doubting some of my observations and conclusions. government job to be with my kids and wife :) Absolutely NO regrets! I am so excited to see this movie! TVPG | 2002 | Documentary, Action. Does anyone know what that is? Using very little dialogue and stunning digital photography captured at baby-POV level, Balmès both celebrates universal milestones -- nursing, eating, crawling, walking -- and presents stark cultural differences without judgment. I embrace attached parenting with an emphasis toward green living. It's been seven months since Babies took over movie theaters. Babies Documentary: Part one: Mongolia: With the family in Mongolia I noticed that the mom would rub and massage her belly and the baby would slightly kick and react to the belly rubbing. But to me, he was the cutest and most fascinating of the four babies. He has a new baby brother now, so there are three boys. Like, it's so peaceful, and at the same time, of course Westerners have a book on the subject.All right, I'll go read some articles about the film and then come back. I had seen "Babies" advertised and we are looking forward to seeing it!We have five kids that we homeschool and as I (the father) work from home and Mama works out of the home three days a week, I get to be very involved with our kids which I love and would not trade for anything. Directed by Thomas Balmès. I wanted to see this movie so badly the Saturday before Mother's Day, when I went on a hot date with my hubby. Scandalize My Name. Babies travels the globe following four children from vastly different corners of the world - Ponijao from Namibia, Bayarjargal from Mongolia, Mari from Tokyo and Hattie from San Francisco. (PG. There was one nice scene with the whole (extended) family celebrating something, but mostly we were shown Bayar alone or with his brother.Cave Mother: Very good point! ... Scientists venture into the ways that walking changes a baby's world and unveil findings on neonatal reflexes, skeletal development and talking. I just love going to the movies). This lovely little movie highlights the different cultures and their methods of raising a child. I was going to point out the same thing about the Mongolia article. In 2010, Focus Features took audiences on an incredible journey with the release of the documentary Babies by Thomas Balmès. Just in time for Mother's Day, The Focus Features French documentary 'Babies' by Thomas Balmes opens at theaters this weekend. The documentary is also on Netflix. Was checking out your blog and am mighty jealous of your sailing adventures. Babies, a documentary directed by Thomas Balmes, follows the lives of four babies from very different cultures. I saw the baby lying alone with a rooster crawling near him and thought, How lonely, and maybe Balmès framed the same scene thinking, How free. :) Hope you can find someone else to go with — maybe a mothers-and-babies showing?Navelgazingbajan: That explains it, because I did get the sense of NICU, etc. Thanks for sharing them! Yes, and she has a little sister Kao, who is insanely cute and insanely French. Sounds fascinating. And I totally forgot about that Mongolian article, which I lurved. The movie Babies shows the lives of four different babies living in different cultures and country, Mari from Osaka, Japan, Hattie from San Francisco, California, Bayar from Bayanchandmachi, Mongolia and Ponijao from Opuwo, Namibia.The movie has no narration but we can see that the movie is showing the development of each baby in the place and environment that they … Directed by Thomas Balmès. Each baby comes from a different culture, which shows how the various customs of each culture can impact a child’s development. The documentary film Babies showcases similarities and differences between the lives of four different babies from different geographical settings and diverse cultures. A new documentary looks at babies around the world in their first year. It is crucial to change perspectives and to realize that there are many ways of doing things," says Balmès who lives in Paris. Thanks so much for the informative review and free ticket giveaway links.I might just be able to see it. 'Babies': Plenty Of Cuteness, Plus An Insight Or Two From Mongolia to Namibia and Japan to the U.S., Thomas Balmes' new film covers the life of the tiniest humans. I'm Lauren Wayne, writer and natural parent. Maybe I'll post a review after I've seen it, too. I thought Bayar was adorable, too, and I'm glad to hear his brother got over the initial disruption to his spot as only child. Apparently once he was about a year old, he and his brother became very close. With Bayar, Hattie, Mari, Ponijao. Mostly it reinforced my belief that we don't have to be (and shouldn't be) obsessed with doing things "right" or follow a particular "model" for raising our children, it reinforced my beliefs in co-sleeping, ECing, and allowing kids the chance to learn how to eat well by giving many choices but not sweating it when the 2 year old just throws his food around rather than eating it at the dinner table (as frustrating as that can be!). One baby was from San Francisco, one from Tokyo, one from Africa, and one from Mongolia. The documentary film Babies showcases similarities and differences between the lives of four different babies from different geographical settings and diverse cultures. Thanks for the great review! I read it originally in Mothering magazine, and you're right — it was all about how breastfeeding was considered the norm, and everyone was being all supportive about babies. So, as a home-birthing family, again they're not overly representative of the American norm.The Grumbles: Good luck!Megan: Two in the state?? Their daughter never smiles throughout the movie, unlike Ponijao or Bayar, even though she was raised to believe the world revolves around her. There’s a pivotal scene in Thomas Balmès’ new documentary feature film “Babies,” in which a blue-eyed, pink-cheeked infant named Hattie whacks her mom in the face. His interpretation of the assignment begins just … But, yeah, the scene focused on the drips and lines and whatever attached to the baby, and the sad little prickmarks on her skin. From there the filmmaker features the developing personalities of the respective babies. Bayar was the only boy. Follow STARZ. The Senior Editor at Parenting magazine is the next "baby professional" to make cinematic selections for our Babies Five In Focus series. Babies may be universal, but the way that society and culture has viewed the little darlings has changed through history. He actually manages to make quite a mess even tied up, which was humorous, and later he's allowed to roam free as a toddler. I wasn't really sure what we were going to see (I had suggested Letters to Julia and the other girls wrote back they wanted to see Babies. Hattie is very, very, very good in school and working a lot. I went to Namibia in 1996 and the women there *were* indeed beautiful. I thought the African baby out in the wilderness being free had a lot of advantages." I love babies, and I love peeking into other cultures. I wonder what it would have been like to have a more mainstream western family. The Mongolian upbringing sounds a bit weird, especially the bit about tying the baby to a chair leg.Not heard of this film before but I will definitely look out for it.PS I love Our Babies, Ourselves as well. I watched the Babies documentary a few months ago and the Mongolian baby that was swaddled for a long time seemed strange to me. As babies make sense of a brand-new world, breakthrough research details how they are already equipped to handle the complexities of human life. I watched the Babies documentary a few months ago and the Mongolian baby that was swaddled for a long time seemed strange to me. Plot Summary | Add Synopsis. BlackFish was released on CNN on November 2nd, 2013. The film Babies is a 2010 french documentary by Thomas Balmes that follows four babies from different parts of the world as they grow and develop during the first stage of their life.The babies introduced in this film are Ponijao from Opuwo, Namibia, Mari from Tokyo, Japan, Bayar from Bayanchandmachi, Mongolia and Hattie from San Francisco, California. 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