Filmmakers Rebecca Lee and Jesper Malmberg's The Middle of Everywhere examines South Dakota's 2006 battle over abortion. At the center is the controversial House Bill 1215, which would have reversed 1973's Roe v. Wade decision statewide; yet, in this bastion of conservative politics, the measure failed to pass. Wondering why, the directors look closer at the polarizing debate, beginning with interviews of two of the architects of the bill, Representative Roger Hunt and Senator Brock Greenfield (who is also president of South Dakota's Right to Life), both of whom express strong opinions, while ultimately offering arguments that seem more pragmatic than religious or moral (aborted babies mean fewer workers in the future, and hence more strain on the economy—reasoning that perhaps made more sense in 2006 than it does in job-strapped 2011). Also featured here are farmers, activists, abstinence proponents, and safe-sex program directors, whose differing views speak to the complexity of the issue. A Catholic farmer admits that he doesn't support abortion, but also says he didn't appreciate it when his priest instructed the congregation on how to vote. Political organizer Christine Fetterly feels that the religious right's ability to mobilize presents a significant obstacle for those who believe in choice, and she worries about a rise in illegal procedures. In the end, the filmmakers find that nearly everyone is “pro-life,” but the interpretation of that phrase varies. An intriguing exploration of a perennial topic, this is recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)
The Middle of Everywhere: The Abortion Debate from America's Heartland
(2008) 52 min. DVD: $89: public libraries; $295: colleges & universities. Women Make Movies. PPR. Volume 26, Issue 2
The Middle of Everywhere: The Abortion Debate from America's Heartland
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