Il ciclo del progresso

When Rayka Zehtabchi won an Oscar for "Period. End of Sentence.", she proclaimed that a period should end a sentence, not an education. Her documentary focuses on the use of sanitary pads in India during women's menstrual cycles, and also the efforts to end the stigma around the topic.

I remember reading about how, when Lucille Ball was pregnant, the network told her that she wasn't allowed to say pregnant on TV. The fact that it's now acceptable to talk about menstruation on the Academy Awards shows how far our society has advanced. Of course, we still have a ways to go. In the meantime, definitely check out this documentary.

What a beautifully shot and inspiring little film! It's only a half hour long - definitely worthy of a watch. Kudu's to the Academy for bringing it to our attention with an Oscar win.

Reading the negative comments posted about their acceptance speech was a bit of a heart breaker. Criticism for the fact that they weren't wearing sari's was a biggy; they really went for the jugular over the fact that they didn't acknowledge creator Mr. Arunachalam Muruganantham in the speech. Cut them some slack, it's tough up there.

Anyway, watch for yourself, I think you'll find he's well represented in the actual film.

We've come a long way baby, but we've still got a long way to go.

This short documentary is so enlightening and such an important, wonderful way to reveal the struggles of women in poverty and in cultures where this subject is still so taboo they can't talk about it, that I really wish this was a full-length documentary. There is so much more to the story than this well done short reveals. Very well done! I am so glad it was honored with an Oscar, I would not have known about it, were it not for the Oscar ceremony, which I always watch, and then watch the nominees and winners that I haven't heard about before the show. Thank you!

This short film is a delight! Having lived through many decades of tampon and every other form of feminine hygiene product in television and print adds, watching Indian women (and men) shyly discussing menstruation is somehow heartwarming. At its core is the serious subject of the empowerment of women that is treated with a gentle but firm hand. Go see it!

It was overall a heartwarming doc. It was really nice and touching to see these women start to feel empowered. Empowered about their bodies and finding work. My main problem is that it wasn't as heavy hitting as I was hoping it to be. Maybe thats because its a short film and so it lacks the time to delve deeper. But as an instance there is a sad moment where the women say that are not allowed to go to temple when they're menstruating. And its something that never gets investigated into further. I think it would have been interesting to dive a bit more into the culture and stigma around the issue. Or a few times they ask men questions like "Do you know what a period is"...or they ask the men who are visiting the women making pads if they know what they are doing, to which the men shyly respond "Diapers". And the documentary never really pushes this narrative further. I felt like it could have been a tad more compelling if they pushed a bit further on why this topic is so taboo and why so theyre embarrassed to talk about it. I get that this is even a big start for them and this "revolution" if you will, is just starting. But I don't know, it was a bit light. I still think its overall an enjoyable doc to watch that also covers important subject matter that will tug at your heartstrings and make you proud to be a woman...but could have been a bit more.