The Guardian: "Mistakes happen to all kinds of people" (abortionist movie)

[JanMichael]

I wonder if this Mike Leigh film will make it to the big theatres here in the US?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1385011,00.html

"Excellent social history, but why bother making a film about the bad old days? Because people have forgotten."

"It is young girls who are most vulnerable to anti-abortion propaganda: once pregnant, only 44% of 15- to 17-year-olds choose abortion. At their most sentimental and vegetarian age, they are the ones easily influenced by Life's horror videos. Sex education in many schools is still so bad that the young are often subjected to Life's free propaganda and readily available speakers, telling them abortion causes infertility and trauma. See how their website for the young says that condoms don't protect against HIV/Aids. Some TV soap storylines reinforce the myths: EastEnders' Sharon is infertile after an abortion."

"The young are less likely to hear reasons why abortion may be the wise option put by Education for Choice, a small organisation with a fraction of Life's resources offering the materials and training for teachers to put balancing arguments. Girls will make their own choices, but they should at least know that abortion is safe, quick and very common. Mistakes happen to all kinds of people. (Ask the prime minister.)"

Toynbee is correct, young people, hell, old people, have forgotten how BAD things get when the "rightious" take control of every womb in the land.

[JDPriestly]

1. Do-it-yourself abortions

I remember attending a meeting of women in the early 1970s in which very young women were discussing how to perform a do-it-yourself abortion. I was horrified. I hope women never again face such desperate measures.

[CornField]

3. I had a young woman e-mail me

I have a page which discusses aromatherapy during pregnancy. On the pages I discuss the oils which are abortifants and should not be used at any time during pregnancy. The girl e-mailed to see if I knew how those oils could successfully be used to produce an abortion.

[susanna]

8. That is insane.

I can't even imagine the desperation that would lead to such an idea, but then I was raised in an environment where abortion was legal, safe, and generally rare (suburbs in the first decade of R. vs. W.). I'm betting your e-mail came from a state that sees pregnancy as punishment for a young woman who had the audacity to have sex. :-(

[Taxloss]

2. You should see the advertising here in London

Huge VERA DRAKE posters over all the public transport.

"WIFE ... MOTHER ... KILLER"

If you haven't seen the film, I recommend it. I doubt that it will receive broad release in the US, which is extremely sad.

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. It opened in the USA in October

and has taken just over $2 million in box office receipts. Maximum number of screens in the country appears to have been 93.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0383694/business

[JanMichael]

5. Thanks!

Here in NC there was no word of it....

[susanna]

9. I don't remember seeing any ads in Michigan...

I was looking for it, too.

[JanMichael]

6. kick

Only becuase there are few subjects left that need, deserve, this sort of attention...

[NYCGirl]

7. It's doing well in NYC, and has garnered remarkable reviews all over:

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/vera_drake/