Venezuela's Maternal Health Crisis Exposed in Award-Winning Documentary The Cord

Nolwenn Hervé's documentary The Cord has earned a Special Mention at CPH:DOX, one of Europe's leading film festivals. The film follows Carolina, a community health worker in Venezuela, as she helps pregnant women navigate a collapsing healthcare system. Hervé, a seasoned journalist, took a deeply personal approach to the story, driven by her own reflections on motherhood.

The Cord was one of six European films featured at the Europe! Docs online event during CPH:DOX. The documentary offers a rare, intimate look at Venezuela's maternal health crisis, where hyperinflation, medicine shortages, and crumbling hospitals have left pregnant women at extreme risk. Maternal mortality rates remain among the highest in the Americas, exceeding 200 deaths per 100,000 live births as of 2025, according to the World Health Organisation.

Hervé filmed much of the documentary inside Carolina's car, creating a safe and private space amid Venezuela's repressive political climate. To avoid detection, she worked undercover, relying on local fixers and Carolina's protection. Despite some easing of US-Venezuela relations in 2023, conditions for pregnant women have not improved—and may have worsened. Since Hervé's last visit in May, she has stayed in touch with Carolina. Neither has seen meaningful change in their lives, even as political shifts unfold. The film captures this stagnation, highlighting the human cost of a system in crisis.

The Cord brings urgent attention to Venezuela's ongoing healthcare collapse, where women like Carolina continue to fight for safe childbirth. The documentary's recognition at CPH:DOX underscores its significance, offering a ground-level view of a crisis that persists despite political changes. Hervé's personal and professional investment in the story gives it a rare depth and immediacy.