Call Jane

Some may call this film timely as the issue of abortion is always a hot topic the theme is touchy however no matter how you see or feel about the issue this film "Call Jane" was an interesting drama film to see about a group of determined ladies.

Set back in the 1960's when most abortions were not legal it involved a housewife Joy(the wonderful Elizabeth Banks) who becomes pregnant however her own health is at risk and still her doctor is of no help. So she finds about an underground network a powerful and courage like discreet group of ladies who run a "Call Jane" organization! The group lead by the blunt and brash Virginia(the great Sigourney Weaver) oversees the life and safety of several ladies who want to abort, call it go against the grain as still these ladies are doing what they have to do in a powerful and brave like manner. This picture is a powerful drama with a strong message of courage, and hope as the film is a social showcase of standing up for believes despite not taking moral or political sides. Overall wonderful well done film to watch.

This movie should be shown in ALL schools as part of the required curriculum. It's not a fancy, flashy, big budget production. It's a modest movie that tells a great story. A very important one. And it does a mighty fine job at doing that too. Sure, we all know those times existed not that long ago in our history but most people don't know what it was REALLY like... what those women went through, how difficult it was, how expensive, etc. This movie felt like it told the story the right way. With a lot of compassion. It's not here to make a ton of money, it's just here to enlighten and spread a message. The acting from Banks and Weaver is the usual/expected top notch, no surprises there, with Banks sometimes telling an entire story with just a slight shift on her face. This is not a fast action packed movie and I see that a lot of people complained about that which I don't understand. It felt like it had plenty of intensity in it for me and it kept me watching from beginning to end. There was always something interesting and new happening. Sure, there were a couple of plot holes (abortion advertisements at a bus stop in the 50's??) but they needed to get the story across so I get it.

Overall this was an excellent movie. Please enjoy it responsibly!

She had a life threatening pregnancy. But the hospital board turns her down when she needed an emergency abortion. She had limited options. Year 1968, 5 years before the Supreme Court ruled under Roe v Wade decision that the constitution conferred the right to have abortion. She visits a shady clinic, considers falling down the stairs and finally finds a flier near the shady clinic she visits: Call Jane. Inspired by true events, this period drama tells a story of a group of staunch and unapologetic grassroots women activists and their ideology of altruism superseding the judgements. When a woman needs help, the underlying reason is not important. Well made and well acted! Fantastic job by screenwriters Roshan Sethi and Hayley Schore for lightening up the serious subject with some humor and still maintaining its quintessence. In today's context, this seems so timely.

This is based on The Jane Collective, a clandestine group in Chicago between 1969 and 1973. It facilitated an estimated 11,000 illegal but safe abortions. It is not just about empowering women as this concept was introduced just in 1985. Women have fought their battles since ages whether it was for suffrage, education, employment or for something as basic a right as abortion. A great watch.

Call Jane is a must watch. Not necessarily because it is the best film around, but because it is so vitally important given the state of the world today.

It is hard not to be very emotionally stirred by this tale of courageous women taking control of their own bodies and their futures in the face of oppression.

The central performance from Elizabeth Banks is very engaging, playing a character that it is easy to sympathise with and connect to.

The story is engaging and well told, if not overly flashy.

I do think certain elements of the film could have been explored and developed more, and it could have been a bit more punchy in parts.

But still, given the state of the world and the ridiculous oppression of women's bodies, it is hard to ignore the importance of a film like this.

Elizabeth Banks ("Joy") and her husband "Will" (Chris Messina) are rather joyfully expecting a late arrival into their 1960s family when it transpires that she has an heart condition that her doctor suggests could prove extremely perilous so long as she remains pregnant. Desperate, she turns to "Jane" after reading a billboard that suggested there may be help at hand. $600 and a visit to "Dr. Dean" (Cory Michael Smith) and all may be dealt with? Not if "Virginia" (Sigourney Weaver) has anything to do with it for she is the facilitator of a small group of women determined to help others who find themselves in a similar predicament. Of course it's all illegal - and the film now takes on a frequently darkly humoured trip that sees this initially rather reticent (and innocent) woman realise that more needs to be done, and to take some, frankly, rather innovative and courageous steps so to do. As far as the integrity of the medical science goes, I suspect this is massively over-simplistic, but in light of current events in the United States, it does shine a light on the difficulties families (single or otherwise) have in obtaining adequate and affordable medical care when they are faced with the unpleasant realities of an unwanted pregnancy. There is the odd bit of politicking going on - the prioritisation of victims getting support proving quite a potent source of debate and that, too, does offer food for thought. Banks reminded me of Elizabeth Montgomery from "Bewitched" for much of this; Weaver, though not exactly prominent here, offers a bit of depth and there is a strong effort from both the increasingly bamboozled Messina and from Wunmi Mosaku's "Gwen". It does begin to recycle itself a little towards and ending that didn't make a great deal of sense to me and the conclusion, despite this being over 2 hours long, seemed a bit rushed - but it is still an entertaining piece of cinema with an underpinning message that is probably more relevant now that for many a year.