Journal #1: Lake of Fire

One of the most controversial issues in America today is abortion. It can cause such intense emotions because of it's connections to faith, poverty, race, equality, and sex. A moving documentary that deals with this very issue and which I'm interested in seeing is "Lake of Fire" directed and produced by Tony Kaye (American History X). Apparently, Kaye had worked on this film for 15 years and shot in black and white. Critics have enjoyed Kaye's neutrality in the film, keeping both perspectives open and honest but have emphasized it's "digusting" and "wrenching" approach. I hope to learn more about these frightening religious-fundamentalist terrorists who will do almost anything for this cause. This graphic film even has a scene of an actual abortion in all of it's nastiness.

One of the most famous movie critics of all time, Roger Ebert (full review) weighs in on the film,

"At 152 minutes, his film doesn't seem long, because at every moment something absorbing, disturbing, depressing or infuriating is happening."

It doesn't surprise me at all that there are "disturbing" or "depressing" things happening because abortion encompasses all of those feelings. A movie that has been in the making for 15 years, one would hope, would be engaging to an audience because of the sheer time length. If I worked on anything for 15 years it would, no doubt, be a masterpiece. But lets move on to more critic opinions.

To be completley honest, this next critic review almost makes me not want to see it. I can stomach some gruesome images but from the sounds of this review, I might not make it without losing lunch. Thankfully, this reviewer says that the documentary benefits from the black and white nature because, much like Schindler's List, the viewer won't be as affected to the ample amount of blood. NY Times: Manohla Dargis (full review),

"The film doesn’t employ narration or on-screen texts that reveal his views on abortion; instead, there are 152 minutes of talking-head testimonials, on-the-street interviews and archival and new visuals...the decision to use black and white was smart because, as with too much "Schindler's List," red might well have sent audiences fleeing from theaters. The absence of color blunts the force of the images, which allows you to watch the movie rather than avert your gaze and your rattled mind."

Documentaries, in my opinion, are almost always watchable because their is a connection present. Kaye is not seen as a documentary maker because of his previous work on "American History X" (that was a great film in my opinion). Many people don't know what the process of getting an abortion is, they just assume that it's a magical process that is over and no disgusting crap involved. It will be hard to justify abortion after seeing some of the images presented in the film. I would hope their would be a discussion about the affects of Roe v. Wade on crime and poverty. Most of all, it is a message that people need to see the consequences of their potential actions, like having unprotected sex. Dargis shows why people are willing to go at such lengths to stop abortion,

"It’s possible that Mr. Kaye opted to show several abortions because he wanted viewers, particularly those sympathetic to a woman’s right to abortion, to understand what stirs some people not just to action, but also to kill doctors."

I'll admit, I'm fearful of the images that I will see if I watch "Lake of Fire". Will it be worth it? One thing is clear, the issue of abortion and it's legality will never go away. I'm interested in seeing this film because I know that I will gain an understanding of the issue that I don't have now. This documentary, in my opinion, will not be the most enjoyable 152 minutes but it will, hopefully, help me gain knowledge on a complex subject. I read a book called "Freakonomics" and learned about the great Economist, Steven Levitt and his claim about Roe v. Wade causing the decline in crime. That's an economist view, now I want a moral view. I want to stop writing about abortion...now.

I'm Pro-Choice.