December 8, 2009
New movie - South Dakota: A Woman's Right to Choose
On Sunday the LA Times reviewed a new movie called "South Dakota: A Woman's Right to Choose." The creators say they want honest debate. Some say it leans decidedly to the pro-life side. I haven't seen it.
The movie, a blend of feature and documentary — which its 60-year-old neophyte director Bruce Isacson calls a "dramumentary" — follows the stories of two pregnant teenagers. One is based on the true story of a girl named Barb ( Ralph Lauren model Piper Ferrone), a white, 14-year-old track star in South Dakota with a loving, long-term boyfriend. The second girl, Chris ("Veronica Mars" actress Tessa Thompson), is a composite character, an African American runaway from Philadelphia who was raped. She is taken in by Cat Megill (Emma Bates), a real woman who started the New York City group Haven Coalition, which finds beds in private homes for indigent pregnant women seeking abortions. The action is punctuated by historical footage as well as interviews with advocates and scientists on both sides of the debate.
The movie was funded by private investors and it's being promoted by the same marketing group that promoted Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ. They plan to reach "350,000 churches and pastors . . . and thousands of organizations in the underserved 'faith market." And, they plan to reach out to those who think killing unborn children is okay. High school students who were recently shown the movie had a frank townhall-type discussion about it afterwards:
"I just feel like if you are woman enough to open up your legs and let someone come in, you should be willing to let something come out," said Jamie Sooniers of Westchester High School. "Abortions are just not right."…
"I think it's OK to have an abortion, but only if you were raped or experienced something really traumatic," said Paige Baines of Crenshaw High. "But even then I think you still should take care of it because that baby could grow up to be someone important."
But, said Rose Kohn of Beverly Hills High, "Every girl should have the right to choose. . . . It's their right, it's their body, it's their choice."
You can read the full review here and see the trailer below. The movie has a blog here. And a website here.
Comments on New movie - South Dakota: A Woman's Right to Choose »
Head Vaednari @ 10:27 am
WOW.
I have to say, kudos to Jamie Sooniers and Paige Baines!
I especially like what Jamie said in reference to sex…except in instances of rape and abuse, a woman chooses wether or not to spread her legs…and to be quite honest, if she does, she should embrace the consequences. Sex isn't meant to simply feel good…it's meant to produce a new, completely human life, unique of all others. And I agree especially with Paige's view…even if rape lead to the pregnancy, the mother should be encouraged to take care of the child, because, not only is there a great possibility (as there is with all other people in the world), that the baby will grow up into someone who can change the world in whatever way, big or small, that they can, but also…the baby didn't ask to be conceived by rape, no more than the mother herself desired to be raped.
It seems much more difficult an issue when major left-wingers pull the sick, twisted question of rape or incest into the equation (despite the fact that only 1% of women who get abortions get them after conceiving through rape or incest)…but when you look beyond the facade, as these two girls do, you can see quite plainly that life is human from the minute of conception, that usually, it was the woman's choice to jump in bed with someone, and that sex is meant to produce a baby and a close, emotional bond…not just some 3 second ecstasy…
Christopher Bain @ 2:36 pm
The film appears to be an important and unheard voice that is either ignored or reduced to an absurd argument in popular culture.These issues are very important and need to be discussed among all teens and their peers.We live in a self indulgent culture that worries about the consequences after it is too late and the devastation has already occurred in peoples lives.
Having experienced the aftermath of women who have chosen abortion often suffering in silence and shame. The film is a refreshing opinion and offers a tough sense of realism and responsibility.However an essential alternative that speaks and protects the dignity of human life.After all if the unborn fetus is not human what is it? A valiant attempt to reach those who feel isolated and alone. And so what if it was filmed in Iowa it is not the title that matters but the moral message the film is trying to present.