Happy Mother's Day

In 1963, Mrs. Fischer gave birth to healthy quintuplets. Immediately, this remarkable event in the American town of Aberdeen became world news. From far and near, the family received children’s clothes, household goods and baby food to alleviate the well-nigh impossible task that awaited them. Despite promises to guarantee the poor family’s privacy, it was instantly besieged by entrepreneurs, press hounds, photographers and the souvenir industry, of course with the intent to capitalise on this unique situation. Unobtrusively, and keenly aware of the tragedy taking place in Aberdeen, Richard Leacock and Joyce Chopra document the dazed parents in the midst of the commercial outrage that overwhelms them. Mrs. Fischer is mainly suffering in silence, but when she speaks her statements bear witness to her inner strength.