The Janes

This is a staggeringly powerful story -- plot-driven, with memorable characters, a brisk pace, and a deeply abiding humanity.

Through exhaustive archival research, the filmmakers manage to immerse the viewer in the era. And yet, stylistically, the film feels contemporary -- better yet, it feel timeless.

Is this the new model for historical documentary? I hope so: move over Ken Burns and Stanley Nelson -- we need more historical docs like The Janes!

It lifted me up in one moment, devastated me in another, and left me challenged, hopeful, angry, and awed. I really couldn't recommend it more strongly.

The Janes is a well told and compelling documentary about a group of women in Chicago who helped women who needed abortions in the pre-Roe era get them Highly recommend,

This is a movie what everybody should watch in the United States of America!

Very well made with astonishing original documentary films, witnesses who lived and survived the darkness of the era when abortion, civil rights, protests, personal freedom were against the law. Especially younger people must see this masterpiece. They will understand where are our freedom of choice is coming from and what will happen with our country, people, women if the abortion, protest, freedom of choice will be illegal in the USA again. Our country will be heading into the hell, period.

Tia Lessen & Emma Pildes' THE JANES is a straightforward yet relevant and well-made Documentary about a group of Chicago women who banded together to facilitate reproductive rights to women when abortion was still illegal in the late 60s and early 70s. They were, for the most part, ordinary women who, fueled by the equal rights movement, wanted to provide options to ALL females regardless of race, age or financial situation.

Because the operation was so clandestine, it's no surprise that there is little actual footage of The Janes from the time period. There are some photographs and later interviews, but, most of what see outside the present day talking heads is stock footage of the time period. Still, the interviews with some of the surviving Janes, who along with their chief 'Doctor', mainly still use pseudonyms, are smartly presented and illuminating.

No matter where you stand on abortion, this documentary is an essential watch. It lays bare, succinctly, the struggle and wherewithal these women (and men!)had to address the desperate situation many women found themselves in. The hypocrisy still lives even today ( catholic priest condemning abortions while probably molesting their alter boys). These women, even beyond race, class, or economic status, fought in solidarity to provide ( and give) an alternative. They also took back control of their bodies, literally and metaphorically. Watch it...learn...empathize!!