However, anyone watching the documentary who doesn't know these things beforehand will be playing catch-up for the next 15 or 20 minutes. And that is problematic.
The episode goes on to show how Ayehu and many like her make their way to Addis Ababa to be treated at a hospital that specializes in fistula repair. The full-length documentary goes into the lives of five different women at the hospital, but the shortened Nova version only discusses three. The point, however, is made. The people at the hospital do good things for a terribly underserved segment of the population. They can't treat enough people, but they do their best to help the women, not just with their medical problems, but with the social ones they face as well.
The documentary does not discuss whether anything is being done to stop the problem before it starts, or whether an effort to educate people as to the cause of the fistulas and thereby prevent the ostracization of victims is taking place. It's an important and relevant question and while not directly asked by the documentary is certainly raised by what is discussed.
Nova's "A Walk to Beautiful" is a piece that opens one's eyes to a serious issue. It is at times distressing and at others heartwarming. However, nearly a third of the piece passes by before the issue becomes clear enough. Not all documentaries need a narrator or an introduction before they truly get going. This one, however, does.
Nova – "A Walk to Beautiful" airs Tuesday, May 13 at 8pm, but check your local listings anyway.
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1 - Josh Lasser
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