Synopsis
The last abortion clinic in Mississippi faces daily protests against its activities by Catholic pressure groups as well as citizens. This documentary follows the stories of 3 women with different stances on abortion, thus framing the American debate about the artificial interruption of pregnancy. The views of Shannon, an employee at the clinic, and pro-life activist Barbara are in direct conflict. Somewhere in between is young April, who is dealing with her fifth unplanned pregnancy. The director uses a purely observational approach that is neither judgmental nor does it minimise the decisions faced by the women. The film also reveals the social atmosphere of the American South and the pressure that influential lobby groups exert to pass stricter laws.
Director Biography
After an award-winning career as a photojournalist, Maisie turned her attention to filmmaking. In 2014 her short film, The Last Clinic was nominated for a News and Documentary Emmy, and she was listed as one of PDN InMotion’s 20 Emerging Artists to Watch in Film and Video. In 2012, her multimedia project, Half-Lives: Chernobyl Workers Now won an Overseas Press Club award. In 2010, her short film A Life Alone was nominated for a News and Documentary Emmy. She has taught as an adjunct professor at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism and CUNY Graduate School of Journalism. Most recently, she worked as a director of photography on MTV's documentary series, True Life.
Maisie Crow