After the apocalypse.

This documentary follows the story of Bibigul, a young pregnant Kazakh woman with what local doctors call a "frightful, defected face". She is the daughter of Biken, a woman born with the same congenital disfigurement. The family are poor subsistence farmers. During the Soviet era, the people of Semipalatinsk were unknowingly used as human guinea pigs in the testing of 456 nuclear warheads. Locals were encouraged to carry on as normal around the radioactive crater lakes, whilst doctors then analysed the impact. Now, people born in this region are given extra health provision, which also includes pregnancy screening tests. Although the scientific evidence relating to whether genetic defects caused by radiation can be passed down to the children of those who were exposed is inconclusive, much pressure is applied to pregnant women to be tested, then, when confronted with the results, to terminate their pregnancy if there is a risk of Down's Syndrome or other common abnormalities. There is an uncomfortable scene in the film where the ante-natal team realise their insensitive approach does not reflect well on the standard of care they are giving their patients; they then consider hiring a psychologist. Even within the scope of the programme it is clear that these tactics often mis-fire and women come later in their pregnancies after the cut off point for a voluntary termination. Dr Toleukhan Nurmagambetov, head of the city's maternity clinic, believes that the many birth abnormalities are a result of exposure to radiation - there is also the problem of disabled children (some with complex mobility and neurological conditions) being abandoned in state-run nurseries. Nurmagambetov controversially suggests the introduction of a genetic passport, which will prevent descendants with known congenital defects from giving birth. At the end of the film, Bibigul gives birth to a healthy baby boy.

This

UK : More 4, 2011.

1 DVD (60 min.) : sound, color, PAL.

Broadcast on 19 July, 2011

Produced and directed by Antony Butts.

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