Aftershock (2022 film)
{{Infobox film
| name = Aftershock
| image = Aftershock 2022 film poster.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Promotional poster
| director = {{Plainlist|
- Paula Eiselt
- Tonya Lewis Lee
}}
| producer = {{Plainlist|
- Paula Eiselt
- Tonya Lewis Lee
}}
| writer =
| starring =
| music = Chanda Dancy
| cinematography = {{Plainlist|
- Jenni Morello
- Kerwin Devonish
- Michael Crommett
}}
| editing = {{Plainlist|
- Flavia de Souza
- Sunita Prasad
}}
| production_companies = {{Plainlist|
- Impact Partners
- Malka Films
- Good Gravy Films
- JustFilms/Ford Foundation
}}
| distributor = {{Plainlist|
}}
| released = {{Film date|2022|1|23|Sundance|2022|7|19|United States}}
| runtime = 89 minutes{{cite web|url=https://festival.sundance.org/program/#film-info/61adfc8cf3066d13eb2ddbb7|title=Aftershock|website=Sundance Film Festival|access-date=February 21, 2022}}
| country = United States
| language = English
| budget =
| gross =
}}
Aftershock is a 2022 American documentary film directed and produced by Paula Eiselt and Tonya Lewis Lee. It follows Omari Maynard and Bruce McIntyre, whose partners died due to childbirth complications, which were preventable, as they fight for justice.
The film, executive produced by filmmaker Dawn Porter, premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival on January 23, 2022. It was released on July 19, 2022, by ABC News Studios, Onyx Collective, and Hulu. It received critical acclaim.
Plot
Aftershock is a documentary that sheds light on the systemic failures of the U.S. maternal health system, which disproportionately endanger the lives of Black women. Centered on the tragic, preventable deaths of Shamony Gibson and Amber Rose Isaac during childbirth, the film follows their grieving partners, Omari Maynard and Bruce McIntyre, as they transform their pain into purpose. Through their activism and community-building with other surviving Black fathers, they rally for justice, expose the historical roots of neglect and exploitation in gynecology, and demand institutional reform. Seamlessly blending intimate personal stories with searing historical analysis, Aftershock uplifts the resilience of families and birth workers striving to create a more equitable and compassionate maternal health system, while calling attention to an urgent national crisis.
Release
Aftershock had its world premiere at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival on January 23, 2022.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/sundance-film-festival-2022-lineup-lena-dunham-amy-poehler-cosby-kanye-west-netflix-1235129277/|title=Sundance Unveils 2022 Feature Lineup, Including Films From Lena Dunham, Amy Poehler and Netflix's Kanye West Doc|website=Variety|first=Brent|last=Lang|date=December 9, 2021|access-date=February 21, 2022}} ABC News, Onyx Collective, and Hulu shortly after acquired distribution rights to the film.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/02/aftershock-onyx-collective-abc-news-acquire-sundance-doc-1234933942/|title=Disney's Onyx Collective & ABC News Acquire Award-Winning Sundance Doc 'Aftershock'; Will Stream On Hulu In U.S.|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Matt|last=Grobar|date=February 15, 2022|access-date=February 21, 2022}} It also screened at South by Southwest on March 13, 2022.{{cite web|url=https://schedule.sxsw.com/2022/films/2054910|title=Aftershock|website=South by Southwest|access-date=February 21, 2022}}{{cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=February 2, 2022 |title=SXSW's Lineup For Return To In-Person Festival Includes Movies With Sandra Bullock, Nicolas Cage, Pete Davidson, Rose Byrne & More |url=https://deadline.com/2022/02/sxsw-2022-films-lineup-schedule-1234924852/ |access-date=February 21, 2022 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}
Reception
= Critical response =
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 100% approval rating based on reviews from 28 critics, with an average rating of 8.10/10. The website's consensus reads: "Aftershock points a sobering spotlight on a public health crisis, maintaining a heartbreaking focus on its tragic human cost."{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/aftershock_2022|title=Aftershock (2022)|website=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=February 21, 2022}} Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 87 out of 100 based on 7 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".{{Cite web |title=Aftershock |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/aftershock-2022 |website=Metacritic}}
= Accolades =
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://aftershockdocumentary.com}}
- {{IMDb title|16376478}}
- {{Rotten Tomatoes|aftershock_2022}}
Category:2022 documentary films
Category:American documentary films
Category:Documentary films about death
Category:Documentary films about health care
Category:Documentary films about pregnancy
Category:Onyx Collective original programming
Category:Impact Partners films