America’s Reproductive Discourse: a Cinematic Probe

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MOVIE REVIEW
Plan C

Genre: Documentary
Year Released: 2023
Runtime: 1h 34m
Director(s): Tracy Droz Tragos
Where To Watch: releases theatrically on October 6, 2023, and digitally on November 14; find the showing nearest you and more information here wwwplancmovie.com

Options for at-home abortion pill access will vary based on your location. Click here www.plancpills.org to find options in your state or territory.

RAVING REVIEW: Sometimes, a movie is so important that a rating seems silly; this is one of those cases. This isn’t a topic that should be rated on a one to five-star scale; women’s health is more important than any rating. No shame to anyone who rates it; I just think that the topic of the film is far more critical. PLAN C strikes a chord, elegantly portraying a narrative infused with stern resolve, authentic struggles, and unyielding defiance against systemic encumbrances. The film flings open the curtains to a nerve-wracking discourse on medical abortion in the United States, more so following the unnerving overturn of Roe v. Wade in 2022.

At the forefront of this narrative is Francine Coeytaux, a seasoned public health crusader, and her brigade of activists who initiated the Plan C campaign back in 2014. Their battle cry is clear and loud: to disentangle the snarl of misinformation encircling the medical abortion pill, RU486—a marriage of Mifepristone and Misoprostol— and elevate its accessibility. Despite the blessings of the FDA from the year 2000 and a seal of efficacy from the World Health Organization, the gnarly barriers of restriction and misinformation remain unyielding foes.

Director Tracy Droz Tragos carves a cinematic passage through a labyrinth of personal adversities, bureaucratic hitches, and the groundswell of grassroots vigor, sculpting a resonant mosaic of resistance. The lens leads the audience into the heart of this project, where women, supported by compassionate midwives and medical mavericks, clash with an escalating wave of conservative dogmas endeavoring to usurp women’s autonomy over their bodies.

The narrative navigates the reproductive rights dichotomy across the red and blue states, laying bare an ideological abyss. The relentless push by red-state lawmakers to outlaw abortion births a conversation that is consistently against the voters’ wishes who put these lawmakers in office, challenging the blue conditions to step up and extend a hand to their beleaguered neighbors.

PLAN C champions the steadfast spirit showcased by those engulfed in this battle amid brutal adversities. The narrative’s emotional essence is manifested through unwavering activists, compassionate healers, and tenacious patients. Though underlining the urgency of the ongoing quest for reproductive justice, the film leaves the audience yearning for a more thorough dissection of the legal frameworks and their nationwide implications on women. I would have liked to have seen a deeper dive into the legal aspects, but their website offers quite a bit of information.

PLAN C unfurls a stirring narrative enveloped within the contemporary socio-political milieu. Tracy Droz Tragos orchestrates a poignant depiction of staunch activism amid towering adversities. Through this cinematic voyage, audiences will gain a heightened awareness and a stimulated conscience concerning the ongoing reproductive discourse in America.

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[photo courtesy of LEVEL 33 ENTERTAINMENT]

MY SAG-AFTRA/WGA STRIKE STATEMENT:
As an advocate for creators, actors, and writers, I firmly stand with SAG-AFTRA and the WGA in their current strike. The entertainment industry is built on these individuals’ extraordinary talents, and their contributions must be appropriately recognized and rewarded. They deserve fair compensation, sensible work hours, and respect for their creative rights. I believe in the power of unity and collective action, and I’m steadfast in my support for their fight for better working conditions and fair remuneration. Together, we can shape a more equitable future in the entertainment world.

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