Barbara Ehrenreich, who has written extensively about poverty in America, co-executive produced filmmaker Maisie Crow's Showtime-aired documentary about abortion rights in the Deep South, which focuses on the struggles of Mississippi's last abortion clinic. Anti-abortion organizations like Americans United for Life have been trying to shut down the Jackson Women's Health Organization, while Republican governor Phil Bryant has been doing everything he can to eliminate abortion altogether. Clinic director Shannon Brewer, a mother of six, has to wend her way through protesters every day (she knows them so well that she calls them by name, asking them to move when they cross the line between public and private property). Due to TRAP (Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers) laws, resident OB-GYN Dr. Willie Parker must tell prospective patients that abortion can increase their risk of breast cancer even though no legitimate studies have established such a link. Mississippi also has 38 crisis pregnancy centers—Christian organizations that receive funding from anti-abortion groups and target low-income neighborhoods. April Jackson, a 24-year-old Walmart worker and single mother with four children, visits the Center for Pregnancy Choices, where they do an ultrasound and hand her a picture that features the words "Hi Mom." Crow also spends time with crisis clinic manager Barbara Beavers, who persuades Jackson to bring her fifth pregnancy to term. Meanwhile, the abortion clinic risks closure. Still, while TRAP laws have hastened the demise of several abortion clinics in Texas, Brewer's lives to fight another day. An alarming documentary on a perennial hot-button issue, this is recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)
Jackson
(2016) 93 min. DVD: $95: public libraries & high schools; $395: colleges & universities. Girl Friday Films (www.jacksonthefilm.com/educational-use). PPR. Closed captioned. Volume 32, Issue 5
Jackson
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
Order From Your Favorite Distributor Today: