After Tiller

I wanted to give this movie a 9 but I couldn't think of anything wrong with it, so I have to default to a 10. Saw it last night at Full Frame Film Festival. Nicely done, technically adept, holds your interest, and tells powerful stories about the four remaining doctors who perform late-term abortions in the US, following the murder of Dr. Tiller. You will hear and see interviews with patients, many of whom had planned pregnancies but found out on a late ultrasound that the baby had a defect incompatible with life or leading to a severely reduced quality of life (vegetative states, constant pain, and the like). You will hear interviews with young women who were raped and initially in denial of the pregnancy, then came to the painful decision to abort in the late second trimester. Should be required viewing for every legislative body across the country. Also for anti-abortion protesters, but that will never happen. Deserves showing on TV, hope it gets a PBS contract. I predict these young filmmakers have a brilliant future ahead of them.

Why the low rating? Wouldn't you think that you would actually show the procedure that is at the heart of the discussion? That would seem to provide some objective balance. As it stands, without it, it is just people talking in abstractions based on personal beliefs which does very little to advance the dialog from a dispassionate and rational perspective. Personal beliefs, on either side of this issue are irrelevant in the face of the actual procedure - which sadly we were never allowed to witness.

Having read about this very interesting documentary, I'll put a stone for it.

I think it must take a lot of courage, especially in the USA, to make and practice

anything that is not mostly well admitted/appreciated by the people or the law of

the different states legalization, especially anything that helps freedom

of personal decision or freedom of thinking.

The reasons come from the fact that in USA, a lot of people who are "free thinkers"

have unfortunately a big chance to fall under the bullet of any madman, or

any big power/industry/political leaders rented shot man,

whom they are against or interfering their "easy business".

It comes also because to get any lethal weapon is just as easy as to buy bread !

USA is a democracy, that is correct, yes, but in many ways it's like it is not !

The pressure of television, churches and big lobbies is so strong, that in

practice it almost annihilates the democratic system, many times, by the sideway...

The democracy, obviously in itself is not the problem, but what it let allow,

I mean put a blame on a big spot, because it makes sell news !

Political opponents and free thinkers are killed anywhere on this planet, that's

true too, but for a democracy as is USA supposed to be, something goes wrong !

Apart that, my rating goes to the freedom of thinking,

because I yet didn't see the documentary.

I rated it, because quoting Martin Niemöller poem :

"When the Nazis came for the communists, I did not say anything, I was not a Communist.

When they imprisoned socialists I did not say anything, I was not a socialist.

When they came for the trade unionists, I did not say anything, I was not a trade unionist.

When they came for me there was no one left to protest."

is the only way I can express my concerns about Freedom !

Therefore > courageous doctors and courageous directors :-)

Even my friends pro-choice don't agree with this movie. Its actually hard for me to review this movie focusing just on this movie. It was shown in Ireland this week. The documentary-movie tries to bends peoples opinions that late term abortions are necessary. I see nothing noble about this movie, Children with disabilities should be given the chance and the support at life, let them have a voice, they are our children. Maybe we would be surprised at value of there contribution to life. I went to see the movie because one of the abortionists was speaking on Irish radio. Its impossible to come to terms how these procedures could be carried out. I suppose had they actually shown a late term abortion on the documentary people might have seen it for what it is. It really is sadly taking the life of a viable child. We can dress it up with music and soft words and spin it with this movie, but it is what it is. Sorry of this review seems very political or even extreme, I just felt very very uncomfortable with this documentary. We need to stand up for the reality before us, late term abortion is pretty horrific, euthanasia of the child because we think they would be better off out of the way. Sorry to IMDb for this review, but since the movie is posted here for review then I give mine,

First and foremost: Don't confuse a review of this film with a review of the practices involved. (I've seen at least one negative review of this film that was clearly by someone who had not seen the film, but wished only to voice an opinion about the general subject matter).

See this film. Pro-choice, pro-life, undecided? Doesn't matter. See this film. It will only help you to better the subject.

This film is the best documentary I've seen. I don't mean just because the content is amazing, of course, but the quality of the portrayal is also almost shockingly good. A number of the filming techniques did an *extremely* effective job of letting us see insides the minds and hearts of both doctors *and* patients.

In a topic as emotionally charged as what this film covers, it's easy to get caught up in the subject as "abstract." This film helps us to see the real impact and effects these people - and practices - have. It's not always pretty, and it can be very difficult to watch, but I feel significantly more connected to the whole subject now.

Yes, the film leans in some ways toward "pro-choice," but it in fact makes some very clear points about just how difficult that choice is. I won't spoil it, but the most intense moment of the film for me happened right there. And the film doesn't vilify the pro-life people - they're ever-present, as in real life, but they are portrayed honestly as well. It's clear they are as passionate as the doctors.

This is just, overall, a very brutally honest film.

I had the good fortune to see this in a small theater, and one of the directors did a video-chat with the theater as a Q & A. That was a nice touch, but my 10/10 review was cinched the moment the film ended.