About Teta
In Teta, Alexandra Hidalgo tells the story of her journey nursing her youngest son, Santiago, for twenty-two months. Teta uses Hidalgo’s narration and the footage shot by her husband to portray the ups and downs of nursing a baby as a working mother of two. As the film shows Santiago go from his first nursing session minutes after being born to his last as a walking and talking toddler, Teta illustrates the transcendent emotional bond created by nursing, not only between mother and child but between all members of the family.
Why this film?
Although nursing is one of the most natural ways two human beings can connect and it comes with countless health benefits for mother and child, it is a misunderstood and to some even controversial practice. Teta does not discuss the science behind nursing. There are copious books, websites, organizations, and activist groups that do admirable and effective work disseminating that information. The film doesn’t directly address those who find nursing in public or in the work place to be problematic either. Instead it tells the story of the ways in which a family comes together through nursing.
By providing viewers with an intimate portrayal of what nursing looks and feels like for all members of a household, the filmmakers hope to help demystify the practice and to invite others to share their personal stories around nursing. When combined with the extensive research that has been done about the benefits of nursing, personal stories like Teta can help deepen our understanding of how powerful and life-altering a practice nursing can be.
Who is Teta for?
For expectant parents and those who would like to have children someday, Teta provides a vivid portrait of what the experience of nursing can be like. Not only the magic of it, but the complicated dance that is required when juggling a nursing baby and a profession. Those who are no longer nursing will find that this film brings back a number of forgotten memories and sensations. This is also a film about family connections, so whether or not a viewer is interested in nursing per se, the story of a family coming together will resonate with their own family history.
Our hope is that prenatal courses and nursing and feminist organizations and advocacy groups will share this film with their members and use it as a way to discuss the emotional side of nursing. The film is also aimed at Women and Gender Studies courses where Teta will help to open up discussions about motherhood, women’s bodies, and the particular needs of mothers in the work place. Because the film tells the story of a bilingual family in which the wife is Venezuelan and the father is American, the film will also be of interest to the increasing number of Latina/os living around the world. Contact us if you’d like to organize a screening.
