By Molly Lee
One in ten women suffer from endometriosis, yet it isn’t commonly portrayed in any form of media. Shannon Cohn, who has the condition, changes this narrative in her film, Below the Belt
Below the Belt, a social justice film, masterfully encapsulates what millions of women go through in their lives with endometriosis in just under an hour of runtime.
Endometriosis is a condition where tissue such as the lining of the uterus grows outside to other areas in the body. This groundbreaking documentary shows this condition through personal and inspiring stories of four women as they search for answers and solutions.
Despite affecting one in ten women and causing incredible amounts of pain, it is still a condition that few have really ever heard of, read about or seen in films. So, underneath the radar, endometriosis devastates millions of lives – stopping people from working, reducing their chances of pregnancy and significantly decreasing their quality of life.
This is why Below the Belt is such a crucial film for all to watch, whether you’ve heard of the condition or not.
Throughout the film, we are shown the personal and real experiences of four women in America. For myself, as a young woman who was diagnosed with endometriosis at 19, I related a lot to Emily Hatch – a 17-year-old girl who is urgently searching for answers and treatment to make it more bearable to live.
When Emily is first introduced, the screen cuts to black as you can hear her deep, sharp intakes of breath. She’s sat in her car, leaning over the steering wheel, on her way to school, trying to breathe through the excruciating pain.
“I fake a lot of my life,” Emily says as it shows her forcing a smile out at school. “I just want to be normal.”
This perfectly encapsulates living with endometriosis. It’s tough, you feel isolated and abnormal. Below the Belt doesn’t shy away from this harsh reality – it shows it for what it is.
Additionally, the film shows how the condition also impacts those around the patient. For example, in close-up emotional shots, we are shown both Emily’s mother and Laura’s (another woman featured) father in tears. This highlights the holistic approach of the documentary, as it focusses on the women, their families, societal taboos, gender bias and a failing healthcare system.
It’s not just Emily who stands out in the film, all the women who share their experiences do. They’re just normal women. They could be yourself, or the person you sit next to on the bus. Because endometriosis doesn’t discriminate based on ethnicity, religious beliefs, how healthy you are or anything.
If it wants to attack you it will. Relentlessly.
Naturally, the film has upsetting and difficult tones, which are matched with the piano instrumental in the background. But at the end, you can’t help but have your heart warmed by the updates on each of the women.
All four of them have newfound smiles since getting the answers and treatment they deserved. You can see the physical difference and growth in their smiles that are a direct contrast from their tired faces in the beginning.
It fills you with hope. Hope that there is a light at the end of the tunnel for those millions of women suffering with endometriosis.
