Movies about abortion - Mental Health Related Films

Human lives and behaviour are far more nuanced and emotive than any textbook can ever portray.

While movies are not perfect depictions of reality, they often present themes in relatable, enriching, usefully challenging, and thought-provoking ways.

We invite you to explore mental health themes through movies that raise awareness, open dialogue, present complexity, entertain, and/or normalise experiences.

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What is Abortion?

Abortion is a medical procedure carried out to end an unwanted or unviable pregnancy. The procedure involves the removal of the foetus (or embryo) and placenta from the uterus. Either surgery or medicine may be used. Only qualified licensed health care professionals may conduct the procedure.

The decision to have an abortion is deeply personal. Feelings of regret, unexpected grief, and other painful emotional states often follow, sometimes long after. Wherever possible, it is important to ensure the availability of sufficient ongoing emotional support.

Movies about Abortion

Movie Title: If These Walls Could Talk - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1996

Rated: 7.1

Cast: Demi Moore, Shirley Knight, Catherine Keener, Jason London

Storyline: Stories of three different women that take place in the same house in the years 1952, 1974, and 1996 and their experiences with unexpected pregnancies and abortion.

Movie Title: 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2007

Rated: 7.9

Cast: Anamaria Marinca, Laura Vasiliu, Vlad Ivanov

Storyline: Set in Communist Romania, a Romanian university student is almost 5 months into an unwanted pregnancy and seeks an illegal abortion with the help of her roommate.

Movie Title: Blue Denim - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1959

Rated: 6.6

Cast: Carol Lynley, Brandon De Wilde, Macdonald Carey

Storyline: A 1950s typical teenage girl is facing an unwanted pregnancy. Her boyfriend is torn between forcing her to have an abortion or revealing her pregnancy to his family.

Movie Title: Ask for Jane - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2018

Rated: 5.3

Cast: Cody Horn, Cait Cortelyou, Sarah Steele

Storyline: Based on a true story, two activists form a secret organisation to provide safe but illegal abortions during a time when abortion is illegal in the U.S.

Movie Title: Le procès de Bobigny - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2006

Rated: 7

Cast: Sandrine Bonnaire, Anouk Grinberg, Juliette Lamboley

Storyline: In 1972, a young girl was raped and underwent an abortion with the help of four women. All of them were arrested and charged but were released when an abortion law was adapted.

References and Links

Abortion Key Facts: https://www.amnesty.org/en/what-we-do/sexual-and-reproductive-rights/abortion-facts/

What to expect before during and after: https://helloclue.com/articles/cycle-a-z/what-to-expect-before-during-and-after-an-abortion

Abortion according to: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abortion

Acknowledgements

The above article was written under my close direction and supervision. However, much credit goes to Charlene Poliquit (my right-hand man) and Andri Eigenberger (my beloved aunt) for their huge efforts in bringing this task to life.

Vincenzo Sinisi

Image by Nikos Apelaths from Pixabay