"AKA Jane Roe" filmmaker on Norma McCorvey's authenticity and getting to that "deathbed confession"

[UpInArms]

Earlier this week, it was revealed that Norma McCorvey — better known as the plaintiff, "Jane Roe" from the landmark 1973 Supreme Court ruling legalizing abortion — gave documentary filmmaker Nick Sweeney a "deathbed confession," admitting she had been paid and coached by members of the anti-abortion movement to publicly oppose legal abortion later in her life.

As Salon reported on Tuesday, McCorvey died in 2017, but the confession was recorded as part of the upcoming FX documentary "AKA Jane Roe," which was directed by Nick Sweeney and debuts May 22 on FX, next day on Hulu. In the film, Sweeney goes deep on all of McCorvey's beliefs and contradictions, from her time as "Jane Roe," to when she dropped that pseudonym in the '80s and became an outspoken advocate for abortion access, to her eventual conversion to evangelical Christianity, after which she renounced her past and joined up with Operation Rescue, one of the most vocal anti-abortion groups in the country.

Sweeney spoke with Salon about filming "AKA Jane Roe" and how he earned McCorvey's trust after an initial rocky start to eventually get the confession and what he learned from the woman whose life subverted all expectations.

So, I wanted to talk about what drew you to this story in the first place because it's one that has had sweeping implications for generations of American women — and you're not either of those.

More at:

https://www.salon.com/2020/05/22/aka-jane-roe-nick-sweeney-norma-mccorvey-fx-hulu/

[mtngirl47]

1. I watched it last night. I highly recommend it.

It reminded me that we need to get Joe elected for judges at all levels.

As for Norma---I think she got a taste of that 15 minutes of fame. When the Pro Choice movement didn't embrace her and she was offered the limelight by the wing nuts-- she jumped for the chance and the money.

[boston bean]

4. I don't disagree with what you say. I believe it to be true after watching the documentary.

But damn I sympathized for her. She was a wounded person.

I also think she was a good person.

But she never had a thing. Hard life.

I guess I have a good deal of compassion for her.

Poor Connie though. Broke my damn heart.

[mtngirl47]

7. I did feel sympathy for her--

And I really liked Connie and felt terrible that they broke up---and can you imagine living with someone that used to be your partner?

And then they said that Connie had a stroke and Norma moved out---such a tragedy.

[MaryMagdaline]

2. Very good documentary

She had a very hard life. Who knows at what point she was sincere and at what point lying. I’ve never thought the regrets of women who have had abortions should weigh more than those who don’t have regrets. We always are attracted to decision #2 after making decision #1 and the threats always seem less dire once the crisis has passed.

I hope she is at peace but I don’t really believe in an afterlife. I feel bad that the one life she had was so painful.

Edited: She never had an abortion. Her regrets, if she had any, had to do with supporting abortion.

[boston bean]

3. I just watched this. It is a must for people to see.

[eissa]

5. No sympathy for her at all

Her and Flip are two sides of the same coin: grifters looking out for themselves. The only person I felt sorry for was Connie. For whatever reason, she truly loved Norma, and to know that she abandoned her after her stroke was incredibly sad. I hope that poor woman didn’t die alone.

[boston bean]

6. Connie broke my heart.

Her face during the baptism in the pool spoke volumes.

She knew she had lost her love.