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Movies and documentaries about abortion

I don't suppose that watching a movie or documentary about abortion is anyone's idea of lighthearted fun, but if you are interested in the topic and want to see something that will enlighten or challenge you (or perhaps both), I recommend the following five films, all available through Netflix:

Documentaries:
  1. Lake of Fire (2006). In my opinion, this is the single best documentary about abortion in America, providing an unvarnished, emotionally complicated, and balanced view of personal and political decision-making about abortion.
  2. Unborn in the USA (2007). Available for streaming. This documentary examines the pro-life movement in America. I would say that the filmmakers have a pro-choice perspective, but it does not affect the quality of the film one way or the other. I found its coverage of efforts to train a new generation of college-age pro-life activists particularly interesting. 
Movies:
  1. Citizen Ruth (1996). Available for streaming. This is a dark satire about the battle of pro-choice and pro-life activists over a drug-addled Laura Dern, who is pregnant and ordered by a judge to have an abortion. 
  2. 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days (2007). Available for streaming. Set in communist Romania, this is the story of a college-age woman who tries to obtain an illegal abortion with the help of her best friend. It is one of those films that you will think about for a week afterwards.
  3. Vera Drake (2004). Available for streaming. This movie, set in 1950s England, is about a mild-mannered housewife who secretly performs illegal abortions. The movie works because of an unsettling performance by Imelda Staunton (perhaps best known now for her role as Dolores Umbridge in the Harry Potter movies).
There are many, many more films about abortion out there. Feel free to send me your top recommendations. 

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