If you’re anything like me, you love a nice night curled up in front of a movie. Better yet — a night in with some close friends curled up in front of a movie about women and their health. Not only is this a great way to start a conversation (or keep one going) about the important services Planned Parenthood provides, but it’s also a chance to remind ourselves what we’re fighting for and what’s at stake.
Without Planned Parenthood, many patients would be unable to afford the services they need or would have nowhere else to go for care. Accurate and authentic portrayals of sexual and reproductive health care decisions in film are more important than ever: Normalizing them will help end the stigma associated with sexual health, and will empower women and others to seek out the information and care they need.
So hit the lights, pass the popcorn, and settle in for a few movies about social justice!
20th Century Women (2016)
Set in Santa Barbara in 1979, this film follows Dorothea Fields (Annette Bening), a determined single mother in her mid-50s, who is raising her teen son at a moment brimming with cultural change and rebellion. In the film, two characters go to Planned Parenthood for birth control and Pap tests for cervical cancer diagnosis.
Watch the trailer here. Available to rent or buy on March 28th, 2017.
Obvious Child (2014)
“This is a hilarious and honest story about one young woman trying to figure out life and dating, and it includes an unapologetic look at her decision to have an abortion. We’ve never really seen a character like Donna Stern in a Hollywood summer film, even though millions of women all across the country will identify with her story…One film won’t change how women are viewed by society and the entertainment industry, but it can help challenge stigma and change the conversation.” –Cecile Richards, president, Planned Parenthood
Watch the trailer here. Available to rent (streaming) on iTunes and Amazon.
TRAPPED (2016)
TRAPPED is a documentary that follows the struggles of some of the health center workers and lawyers who are on the front lines of a battle to keep abortion safe and legal for American women. The documentary focuses on health centers and laws in Alabama, Texas, and Mississippi. It premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Special Jury Award for Social Impact Filmmaking.
Watch the trailer here. Available to rent (streaming) on iTunes and Amazon.
Grandma (2015)
Grandma stars actor and longtime Planned Parenthood supporter Lily Tomlin as Elle Reid, who has just broken up with her girlfriend when her teenaged granddaughter Sage unexpectedly shows up, needing $600 for an abortion. What ensues is an urban road trip in Elle’s vintage Dodge as they spend the day trying to get the money. Sage ultimately has the abortion performed by a compassionate, professional health care provider.
Watch the film’s trailer here. Available to rent (streaming) from iTunes, Amazon, or Netflix (dvd).
Abortion: Stories Women Tell (2016)
This documentary from Tracy Droz Tragos includes stories from women who have had an abortion, who work at health centers that offer abortion services, and from those who support or oppose access to safe and legal abortion. Set in Missouri — which has faced a number of restrictions to access to abortion including a 72-hour waiting period and mandatory, medically inaccurate state-directed “counseling” — the film shares the stories of 32 women. The film also includes stories from clinicians and health center staff about their experiences and why this work is so important to them, as well as protesters, activists, and women who decided not to have an abortion. Watch the trailer here. Premiering on HBO on April 3, 2017.
In the mood for something a little shorter?
Jane The Virgin: S3 E2
If you’re caught up on Jane the Virgin, this episode centers around a main character’s decision to have an abortion. The historic episode is the first time in primetime network TV that we’ve seen a Latina talk openly about having an abortion; it’s a matter-of-fact, sensitive, and guilt-free portrayal.
Her Shorts: Cancer Screenings
This short film features a woman concerned about something she feels in her breast; she enlists the women in her life for advice before deciding to get it checked out. The film is part of a series of short films told through a comedic or dramatic lens that focus on reproductive and sexual health issues. Planned Parenthood co-produced the film, consulted on the script, and helped cast it. You can watch the video and read an article about it here.
Happy watching!
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