Detail For Show: Choice -Then and Now, From the Back Alleys to the Supreme Court and Beyond
–A series of Oscar-nominated, Emmy-winning documentaries on reproductive rights–
These films shed light on issues surrounding abortion rights in the US, turning points in legislation and the current crisis in access to safe abortions.
This award-winning series of four documentaries, produced with PBS, focuses on the human dimensions of the historical, medical, and political issues surrounding abortion. People on the front lines during the "back-alley" days, as well as those involved now, speak candidly. Interviews include supportive clergy who organized underground networks, legislators who worked to counteract anti-choice legislation, physicians who risked their careers and women who themselves went to the back-alleys.
The Reproductive Rights series includes four films:
This film reveals the physical, emotional, and legal consequences when abortion was a criminal act. Women, doctors and health care workers describe the challenges they faced. Family members share remembrances.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80VjiR9z_UE
After more than a century of restrictive, life-endangering abortion laws, a national movement toward safe, legal abortion began in the 1960s. “From DANGER to DIGNITY” weaves together the evolution of underground networks that helped women find safe abortions, and the intensive efforts by activists and legislators to decriminalize abortion. This film ends with the original audio recording of Sarah Weddington arguing before the US Supreme Court in 1973.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFlu_WDZbKs
The FRAGILE PROMISE of CHOICE traces the current climate of legislative restrictions, shortage of trained providers and ongoing violence aimed at doctors and it includes current statistics, as well as the 2009 murder of an abortion provider in Kansas.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sr3iTxq2sQI
Based on the trilogy, From the BACK-ALLEYS to the SUPREME COURT & BEYOND, this film is an overview of the highlights from each of the three films (When Abortion was Illegal, From Danger to Dignity, and The Fragile Promise of Choice). MOTHERHOOD by CHOICE brings alive the history of the struggle for women's reproductive rights in the U.S. and the facts about the current threat to those rights.
Notes to stations:
Never since before ROE v. WADE have Reproductive Rights been at greater risk!
“If Roe v. Wade is undone, women will still look for abortions. What we are going to see is the same number of abortions, but with an increase in fatalities.”
- Reverend Ignacio Castuera (Excerpt from “The Fragile Promise of Choice”)
Film discussion points and further resources can be found here:
http://www.concentric.org/trilogy
Personal statement by the filmmaker (Dorothy Fadiman):
My motivation for this work was personal. In 1961, I became unintentionally pregnant and almost died from a blindfolded, back-alley abortion. Every year, anti-choice legislators introduce new restrictions limiting access to legal abortions. Voters should be aware of candidates’ positions on this issue.
Type of Show: Multiple episode series
Target Viewing Market: National (US)
State of Production and/or Target State or Province: California
Frequency of Episodes: Intermittent
Show Producer: Concentric Media 
No Download Charges On This Show:
DL | Preview/Episode Link | HH:MM:SS | DL $ | Total DL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  0003 Motherhood by Choice.mpg | 00:28:40 | 0.00 | 58 |
| 0004 When Abortion Was Illegal.mpg | 00:27:49 | 0.00 | 54 |
| 0005 From Danger to Dignity.mpg | 00:56:21 | 0.00 | 35 |
| 0006 Fragile Promise of Choice.mpg | 00:57:51 | 0.00 | 31 |
| Protect CHOICE Show | 00:28:48 | 0.00 | 7 |
* Downloads are available only for registered stations and producers.
Total Downloads For All Episodes: 185