Many documentary filmmakers have used their medium over the years to reflect on what led to the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade US Supreme Court decision to legalise abortion throughout the United States. Delving into the historical and political developments that have led to the continued debate over a woman’s right to choose, these documentaries below follow doctors, patients, plaintiffs and protesters through periods when both sides of the ideological debate fought to either maintain or dismantle the Roe v. Wade verdict.
The Supreme Court has now overturned the 1973 decision, reigniting the public debate. To help you learn more about the history behind the Court’s contentious ruling, here is a collection of essential and relevant documentaries to watch on DocPlay right now that give context to the historic ruling.
RBG
The exceptional life and career of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who has developed a breathtaking legal legacy while becoming an unexpected pop culture icon.
After Tiller
Since the assassination of Dr. George Tiller in Kansas in May 2009, there are only four doctors left in the U.S. who provide third trimester abortions. AFTER TILLER paints a complex, compassionate portrait of these physicians who have become the new number-one targets of the anti-abortion movement.
Birthright: A War Story
A feature length documentary that examines how women are being jailed, physically violated and even put at risk of dying as a radical movement tightens its grip across America.
Misconception
Most of us perceive that world population is still growing at an alarming rate, with declining births in the developed world being offset by growing populations in the developing world. But are these claims of population explosion mere outdated scaremongering or do they bear some truth?
Future Baby
A film about the future of human reproduction as it happens right before our eyes. The hopes and wishes of future parents mesh with research on how to optimize the human genome in the face of an ever accelerating rate of progress. How far do we want to go?
The Fight
Inside the American Civil Liberties Union, a team of scrappy lawyers battle Trump’s historic assault on civil liberties. As the president separates families, blocks abortion access, expels transgender soldiers, and rolls back voting rights, these gutsy attorneys struggle to stop an unpredictable adversary with unlimited resources.
Brazen Hussies
Revealing a revolutionary chapter in Australian history, the Women's Liberation Movement (1965 -1975). Interweaving freshly uncovered archival footage, personal photographs, memorabilia and lively personal accounts from activists, BRAZEN HUSSIES shows us how a daring and diverse group of women joined forces to defy the status quo.
Utopia Girls
Historian Dr Clare Wright guides us through the fascinating story of how Australian women became the first in the world to gain full political rights. An evocative and moving film about a little known part of Australian history.
Embrace
When body image activist Taryn Brumfitt posted an unconventional before-and-after photograph in 2013, it was seen by more than 100 million worldwide and sparked an international media frenzy. In her forceful debut, Brumfitt continues her crusade exploring the global issue of body loathing. She travels the world to interview an impressive range of women about their attitudes to their bodies.
