Below the Belt takes us through the harrowing journey of four women grappling with painful and mysterious symptoms, unraveling the complexities of healthcare systems riddled with disparities. The story begins with Jenneh, a resilient nurse in Los Angeles, confronts debilitating abdominal pain and breathlessness, thrusting her into a labyrinth of inconclusive medical tests and specialist consultations. Her plight mirrors that of millions of women worldwide battling endometriosis, an enigmatic condition shrouded in misunderstanding.
This documentary unmasks the pervasive shortcomings in healthcare, spotlighting societal taboos, gender biases, and financial hurdles that impede effective treatment for women. Endometriosis, characterized by ectopic uterine tissue growth, lies at the center of this documentary, its manifestations extending beyond agonizing menstrual cramps to encompass infertility and profound socio-economic repercussions.
Through intimate narratives, Below the Belt exposes the silent suffering endured by countless women, overlooked by a medical establishment ill-equipped to comprehend their plight fully. It critiques the lack of comprehensive education surrounding endometriosis, underscoring the dearth of awareness regarding its diverse symptoms, stages, and psychological toll. The documentary advocates for systemic reform as these women navigate a labyrinth of misdiagnoses and dismissals, amplifying their voices in a collective call for equitable healthcare.
This exposé style documentary will be very entertaining to some viewers seeking a health and politically geared documentary, but it is very much a pop documentary. For all the talk of endometriosis throughout Below the Belt, little goes towards actually educating the at least 1 in 10 women watching about the workings of the condition and how to get screened.
As someone who has loved and lived with several women with this condition, I was frustrated that there wasn’t more said about how to seek treatment and how to mitigate symptoms without painkillers, as such information exists and should be more common. The film’s organization is scatterbrained at times, throwing short and loud segments at the viewer in between long, soft conversations, making it hard to pay attention and disrupting the flow of information for the sake of some celebrity clout.
Below the Belt will be a hit in some Public Library health documentary collections, but this documentary’s bent toward “inspo-porn” and celebrity name-drops over information makes it a poor choice for general academic and health education collections. Consider who your collection serves before considering Below the Belt. Strong optional purchase.