Bei Bei Shuai, a 35-year-old Chinese national, had been living in the United States for 10 years when she attempted to kill herself after a traumatic breakup. Her 53-year-old boyfriend had promised to help to raise their child, but then changed his mind at the last minute. She survived, but her newborn daughter died, and Indianapolis police charged her with feticide. Filmmakers Marion Lipschutz and Rose Rosenblatt catch up with Bei Bei after she has served 435 days in jail. Initially, she didn't seek a plea agreement for fear of deportation. With the help of attorney Linda Pence, she is released on bail. Though the filmmakers don't provide any details about Pence's background, it's clear this isn't just another job, but a case that could have significant repercussions for other women in similar predicaments. She sees it as the culmination of the personhood laws that sprung up in the wake of Laci Peterson's murder. Republican Senator Mike Murphy explains to the directors why he co-authored such a law. Vice President Mike Pence (no relation to Linda) features in archival footage, during his tenure in Congress, arguing that a fetus should have full legal protections. Upon her release until trial, Bei Bei returns to the restaurant she used to manage. She says she used to think she was weak, but now she realizes she was suffering from depression. There were also cultural factors at play, like the shame of having to raise a child by herself. With Pence's help, Bei Bei beats the legal odds, but a dispiriting postscript notes that the fight continues as over 1,000 women have been arrested under fetal harm laws. Bei Bei is a heartwrenching political documentary that covers hot-button issues with intelligence and compassion. Recommended.
Bei Bei
Bei Bei
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