CALL JANE

Feminist perspectives in current films and classics - not just on feminist day of struggle

Joy is a traditional American housewife in the 1960s who longs to become pregnant for the second time. However, when she receives the news that she has achieved her goal, the doctor also informs her that this new pregnancy poses a serious threat to her own life. In a time when abortion was illegal and considered immoral, there seems to be no other way out for Joy until she meets the Jane Collective, a group of underground women who have come together under the leadership of Virginia and are risking everything to offer alternatives to people who find themselves in a similar situation to Joy. Joy will find her true purpose: She will join the organization and help other women take control of their destiny.

"Call Jane" tells the true story of the eponymous group that helped women in Chicago illegally terminate unwanted and dangerous pregnancies in the 1960s and 70s. The "Janes" worked anonymously, secretly and often without sufficient financial and medical support to enable as many women as possible to safely terminate their pregnancies.

The film impressively shows the different reasons that can motivate women to want to end a pregnancy. It also shows the risks and problems faced by activists who oppose what they see as an unjust ban - and how effective change is ultimately possible.

USA 2022 by Phyllis Nagy, 122 min, Eng. Original version with deu. Subtitles, FSK 12
Cast:inside: Elizabeth Banks, Sigourney Weaver, Chris Messina


The screening is being held in cooperation with the Amnesty International Leipzig City Group as part of an event on the topic "Abortions out of the penal code".

After the screening, there will be a discussion about the campaign to decriminalize abortion in Germany with representatives of the Amnesty International coordination group "Human Rights Violations against Women".