Call Jane
A married woman with an unwanted pregnancy lives in a time in America where she can't get a legal abortion and works with a group of suburban women to find help.
- Released: 2022-10-27
- Runtime: 121 minutes
- Genre: Drama, History
- Stars: Elizabeth Banks, Sigourney Weaver, Chris Messina, Wunmi Mosaku, Kate Mara, Cory Michael Smith, Grace Edwards, John Magaro, Aida Turturro, Emily Creighton, Gina Jun, Rebecca Henderson, Bianca D'Ambrosio
- Director: Phyllis Nagy
Comments
- blpkst - 8 May 2023
Who would have predicted that another "Call Jane" movement would be necessary in 2023?
The right to choose was settled until it wasn't! Who would have thought that another "Call Jane" movement would be necessary in 2023?
The film while not perfect get the message across that women were not in control of their own bodies, could not terminate a pregnancy even when medically necessary and the woman's life was in danger. One of the opening scenes has Elizabeth Banks as Joy, pregnant with congestive heart trouble and a hospital board of men voting no on terminating her pregnancy because she might live through it. I almost forgot how dire the situation was back when abortion was illegal in my lifetime. The pill had just become available and has been life changing for women. The film does a good job portraying that time. What a travesty that women's rights have been taken away in more than half of America. I would not have ever predicted that we could regress but we have. It is a tragic state of affairs.
Termination is everyone woman's right. It is a private decision. Laws against women, doctors, pharmaceutical companies, and culpability against anyone willing to help girls and women access to medical help are despicable.
I recommend this film for everyone. - antoniotierno - 13 December 2022
Good rendering of a tory set in 1968
The good achievement of this 1960s-set drama is the transformation of an historical account of illegal abortion into a strong movie of personal empowerment. Elizabeth Banks takes starring and acts perfectly as usually. The material is fascinating and although the director Phyllis Nagy (who was Oscar nominated for her screenplay for Carol) leans into the positivity in Joy's character arc, she never once denies the underlying outrage of her predicament. It helps also that Banks is on winning form, and ably supported by Sigourney Weaver as a flinty Jane veteran with a welter of one-liners. Overall it works. - ethanbresnett - 14 November 2022
A timely piece of cinema
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. - nikosecher - 18 April 2022
An important story but a dull film
I watched this film at Berlinale, not knowing what to expect. And I wasn't blown away by it.
The film is pretty average but it gets a bit full at times. The story is obviously important but the film isn't super entertaining and it doesn't really live up to the story.
