This week is the fortieth anniversary of the Roe v. Wade court decision. With that in mind here are a few films dealing with abortion:
4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days
This winner of the top prize at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival tells the story of a woman pursuing an illegal abortion in 1980s Romania.
After Tiller
This documentary about the murder of Kansas abortion provider Dr. George Tiller premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.
Citizen Ruth
Directed and co-written by Alexander Payne, this film is a satire of the abortion debate as a pregnant drug addict finds herself a celebrity when both pro and anti-abortion activists try to sway her decision.
If These Walls Could Talk
An anthology of stories about women coping with the abortion issue in the 1950s, 70s, and 90s.
Lake of Fire
This documentary (which I screened at Winona State University in 2011) takes an expansive look at the abortion debate.
October Baby
A young woman discovers she is the adopted survivor of a botched abortion and goes on a road trip to find her biological mother.
Vera Drake
A drama about a working-class woman providing illegal abortions in 1950s London. The film won the Golden Lion Award at the 2004 Venice Film Festival.