I am every woman

I Am Every Woman follows Maria and Ruxandra, born in Bulgaria and Romania in the 1980s, whose lives are shaped by state-controlled reproduction, societal expectations of motherhood, miscarriage and infertility. Growing up under communism, Ruxandra witnesses the discreet networks women create under Romania’s abortion ban, while Maria’s childhood in Sofia unfolds amid political jokes that must remain within the home. Their stories reveal how political systems reach into the most intimate aspects of life. As adults, both women leave their home countries, yet experiences of sexuality, medical care, pregnancy loss and motherhood reveal that control over women’s bodies persists in new forms. Combining personal testimony, archival footage, photographs and symbolic animation by Martina Scarpelli, the film explores womanhood, bodily autonomy and solidarity. I Am Every Woman becomes a collective reflection on how history is inscribed in the body, and how women endure, negotiate and resist.

Director’s statement
We are two directors brought together by our shared experience of infertility. What began as a personal search for understanding revealed a wider story of eroding reproductive rights and changing notions of womanhood.

Today, nearly half of U.S. women of reproductive age live in states with abortion bans or restrictions. In contrast, France has enshrined abortion rights in its Constitution. These opposing realities reflect how societies continue to shape and regulate women’s bodies.

Weaving our personal histories into the broader evolution of reproductive rights, we draw on our backgrounds in social and political sciences, documentary filmmaking and animation to create an intimate yet expansive film that fosters connection, gives voice to shared experiences and sparks conversation.