Reversing Roe (2018) User Reviews

Had potential, but nothing new

[GreenGableViews · 6/10 · 25 April 2022]

I'd first like to say this review is an actual FILM review, not a diatribe of my own opinions. Some users of this site seem to put their own viewpoints ahead of a real review, which is what IMDB is for. Although I expected as much. But there was so much nuance and complexity that could've been covered here; I'm disappointed yet unsurprised that it wasn't that sort of doc.

This film had potential. In the beginning I thought that it was perhaps showing both sides... Telling a story, as a film should, and letting the viewer make up their own mind. Allow both sides to gain some insights and compassion for each other. Allow nuance. I think it occasionally veered towards that, but ultimately it was still geared towards either swaying you to one POV or affirming you if you already had that take on the issue. And it left no side with any greater understanding of the other.

In reality there are far more people than you'd think who don't have a black and white viewpoint, who don't fit themselves into a choice-or-life box. Or aren't coming from the same place you might expect. I really would've love to see more of that covered. After all, I come to a documentary to learn, and a good doc should really make the viewer think.

For example, I once read a fascinating essay written by a feminist, athiest woman - who was pro-life. I've also seen those who are extremely religious, and just as staunchly pro-choice. Humans usually don't fit into neat little boxes. I would have loved to hear the stories and reasoning of people like that in this film.

Ideally, I would've like to see this film look outside of the typical, politically-based talking points, and look beyond the usual spokespeople of the two camps. It would have made for a very compelling and interesting documentary if they had interviewed feminist/atheist/secular pro-lifers, if they interviewed the extremely religious pro-choicers, if they spoke to those who could not pick a side, to those who had an "or/but" viewpoint, believing that sometimes abortion wasn't right and sometimes it was, or that some situations would allow for it. Something that would challenge us all, no matter where we stood on the topic.

I also would've loved to hear from more scientists, especially biologists. Evolutionary biologists would have been a fantastic resource in my opinion. There are many who hold the view that science backs up life human life beginning at conception. There are others who have the opposite viewpoint. Imagine if we could get a couple well-educated biologists in a room debating this fact politely and using reason, logic, and facts.

So, in the end this film fell short. It didn't provide new perspectives or give viewers anything to think about. And there are so many perspectives to be had. In pro-life and pro-choice camps, and with all the others in-between or undecided. In the end I felt like this documentary served a political purpose, and wasn't really an honest film. I'm still waiting for that film, the one that will simply tell a STORY and show all sides, and show all the gray areas.

We're all human beings. Documentaries can remind us of that. A great doc really can change societies (Blackfish being a prime example). Unfortunately this was not one of them.

A documentary of how the abortion issue has been politicized

[v612 · 8/10 · 4 December 2021]

I sit through this documentary with a heavy heart, because it really makes me wanna scream while watching this.

It showcases how abortion becomes a political issue to mobilize voters' support to win an election, and how pressure groups and lobbyists utilize their influence to sway politicians to pass laws in their favor regardless of scientific facts and medical evidence. It showcases how the democratic system in the US is broken in a way, that it no longer upholds its most fundamental values of passing laws that protects individual liberties (when they pose no harm to other individuals), based on scientific research, facts and statistical evidence.

It shows how people are being emotionally mobilised by packaged ideologies and propaganda, to uphold a view that may not be entirely factually correct. To split people into a bipolar view of one-side vs the other, when there can be compromises and more detailed arguments to reach consensus. It promotes a culture that it's either us or them.

One critic for this documentary, is that it could have provided more scientific evidence and medical research regarding abortion and reproductive rights. Delve more into the social and philosophical aspects of the abortion issue.

For example, how does the right to abortion interact with the family structure, economic discrepancies, educational and job opportunities? More discussion can be made on why people want abortions, or what makes abortion an important right.

Also, there can be more discussion for what does it mean for a foetus to have a "life"? What does the three trimesters of pregnancy signifies? These questions are essential to understanding more about the debate on abortion rights.

Instead, this documentary focuses entirely on the politics of the abortion issue. Which I feel like is not enough information on the issue.

Well done and factual history, but leaves out some key things

[jrinvest · 7/10 · 13 September 2018]

Reversing Roe gives us a good history of the battle for and against legalized abortion in America. The strategies and tactics employed by the players on both sides are well presented. However, several things which I believe are extremely relevant to this debate were completely absent from this documentary.

The first of these omissions is there was no discussion whatsoever that the 1973 SC ruling seemed to invent out of thin air a Constitutional "right to privacy" and a woman's "right" to have complete control over her own body. Wouldn't those "rights" also apply to prostitution, where a woman would be able to rent her services as she sees fit, without having to fear being thrown in jail, or give the lion's share of her earnings to someone paying off the police?

The ROE decision also included "viability" of the fetus, which is an ever-moving target due to constant medical advancements.

The movie well depicts the passion that drives the leaders of both the "Pro-Life" and "Pro-Choice" movements. What the movie omits is that this passion is limited to a fairly small section of the population as a whole.

Many Pro-Life supporters publicly claim abortion is murder. But ask ANY Pro-Life politician if he or she believes that women who go to foreign countries for abortions should be prosecuted, imprisoned, and/or executed for premeditated murder, and the answer will be "NO!" Similarly, very few people who want to keep abortion legal will admit to wanting the taxpayers to fund an unlimited number of abortions for a woman who keeps getting pregnant but doesn't want any children.

Because of these realities, abortion isn't in the forefront of the minds of most Americans. In scores of national polls where voters are asked what the most important political issues are in America, abortion currently ranks around 14th place. REVERSING ROE might have you believe otherwise.

Worth a watch, but you may get angry

[chazzheaton · 9/10 · 19 September 2018]

I am not from the US, I don't like in a country where abortion is much of a debate. It's crazy to see a country which boasts about personal freedoms is determined to remove reproduction freedoms from women. It made me angry that the anti-choicers just ignored why abortion became legal in the first place. It was a hard watch, but very interesting. I wanted to shout through the screen

Absolutely brilliant! But very upsetting

[lottanordin-90611 · 10/10 · 14 September 2018]

This documentary showcases the many dimensions of the politicized abortion In the United States. It gives you a facutal ground about the opposing sides, and illustrates the extreme power and responsibility that the appointed judges have in the Supreme Court.

It will however make you very upset when you realize that the opposing side has a lot of men in powerful positions making decisions about women. An eye opening documentary for sure, a must see for both men and women.

History

[bsmyth-1 · 7/10 · 1 October 2018]

The documentary is lacking in showing history of the abortion debate prior to 1900. This is because there was NO ABORTION DEBATE prior to 1900. Abortion was safe and legal, and NO ONE CARED. This should have been presented.

We will never go back

[amberwatts-46670 · 10/10 · 16 September 2018]

Opposition to abortion was never a "woman" issue, but always a political tool used by men in power to control women. It is a proven scientific fact that pregnancy & child birth is more dangerous for a woman than a safe & legal abortion. Every person. male & female, needs to watch this documentary & demand & vote that the right for a woman to make her own choice about her own pregnancy be protected by the constitution. Her rights are not a tool for male politicians to use for their gain.

Reversing Roe? It's biology, stupid !!!

[haightonrw · 6/10 · 16 September 2018]

Personally, I am pro-abortion and pro-choice

What I dont understand is why people need it. Are there so many people who dont know anything about their own bodies? The laws of biology? We need a driver's license to drive a car. Maybe its time to issue a license to people before they start having sex/make love/procreate.

Excellent though of course infuriating

[bstex17 · 10/10 · 29 November 2018]

Film does an excellent job in telling the story of the fight for the right to choose what happens to your body if you are a woman. It simply is balanced, both sides got more or less equal amount of time/space to speak their mind. If you browse through a couple of reviews here you can find some claims about the movie that simply are not true, so for instance you can find this gem: " The pro life movement is made to look like a bunch of idiots, driven only by males. Not one woman was highlighted as being pro life.". He/she proved the first part of that claim with that very sentence incidentally, because not only was that not the case in the movie but the last person who is speaking for the pro-life side is a woman. Also there is critic that the pro-life side is represented only by religious fanatics, no science on their side. Of course there is a reason for that also, in that the scientific facts simply are not in favor of pro-life. I am sorry that certain people seem to be offended by the representation of pro-life by the religious right in the movie, but that is who is pushing pro-life agenda, as mentioned there is a reason its not Nobel lauerates picketing clinics and killing people. Thats not the fault of the film. To summarize: take the 90 minutes and watch the film, if you are a person with critical/objective/rational thought process you will enjoy it (no matter on which side of the fence you fall on), if not then be prepared to get upset I guess....

Good documentary

[Kingslaay · 7/10 · 23 July 2022]

Another good and short documentary by Netflix. My favourite parts were showing how things were impacted by various US presidents who held office. The abortion issue has become a political one and divided the country and the world. Each party tries to stack the Supreme Court to achieve their agendas. It's sadly a numbers game and the dial keeps changing. At the time of writing this review, the Supreme Court has overturned Roe vs Wade. The documentary is timely and aged well as it predicted what would happen.

I learned a lot

[mariamakesmusic · 10/10 · 20 January 2019]

I learned a lot about how elections are won in the USA and learned that keeping this issue in a deadlock position is exactly what both liberals and democrats want in that country. It keeps people voting. I learned that ignorance which drives prejudice and discrimination isn't just cured by education. Because even when you educate people about the science and medicine around this issue there are still people who choose to believe it's perfectly ok to polarize and politicize something. This issue isn't at all about the best interests for human choice or life. This issue is about the political gain and loss of social groups at the expense of human dignity and freedom.

Excellent production values, but not very even handed

[tom_burns-1 · 5/10 · 19 September 2018]

This is a slick and very watchable documentary about the history of the abortion debate in America. The discussion of the history of abortion in America before Roe v. Wade is particularly well done.

Sadly, the rest of the film is more propaganda for one side (see if you can guess which) than it is an even handed exploration of both sides of the argument. In fact, in this sense I believe it is a perfect reflection of today's political climate, neither side is willing to admit that the other side has a valid point on any salient issue.

While both sides are represented, the only "Pro Life" interviews that are presented are from those who are for outright banning of the practice and approach the subject from a purely religious perspective.

Both religious and secular arguments are presented for the "Pro Choice" side.

In summary, we saw many well-reasoned and even nuanced interviews with "Pro Choice" people, but interviews with "Pro Life" supporters were limited to the most extreme and religious supporters.

Where are the discussions with those who would limit abortion rather than abolish it absolutely?

Where are the discussions with abortion foes who do not take all of their direction from The Bible?

I believe that the film makers made a good effort to present both sides of the argument. Sadly, the film maker's impressions of those who oppose abortion appear to be simplistic and are only a very small part of the story.

The land of the free!

[alinsplice · 10/10 · 14 September 2018]

"The land of the free!" , "Greatest country in the world!" .... yeah right. You have less rights than an eastern european ex comunist country. All it takes is religion and political interests. You don't even need outside enemies. Your future is so bright!

An essential documentary

[danybur · 10/10 · 25 June 2022]

Summary

A few hours after the annulment by the US Supreme Court of the ruling Roe vs. Wade (who enshrined abortion as an individual matter and a constitutional right), with the serious consequences for reproductive rights and women's health that it will bring in several states of the Union, it is essential to watch this remarkable documentary that constitutes a true Legal, social, and political history of abortion in the United States.

The film recounts how abortion enters the political agenda and how the annulment of that ruling (and, meanwhile, the increasing obstruction of its application) is actually the culmination of a long process carried out by Republican politicians and Catholic and Episcopal groups.

Review:

This documentary of just over an hour and a half is a legal, social and political history of abortion in the US that takes as its milestone the ruling of its Supreme Court of Justice in 1973 (a curiously quite conservative and totally male Court) on the class action lawsuit "Jane Roe et. To vs. Henry Wade" (prosecutor of the case), where it is established that the practice of abortion is enshrined as a private matter of women and a constitutional right and that the States cannot approve any legislation against it during the first trimester of pregnancy, they can introduce some regulations for the second and only for the third trimester they should regulate it only in cases to take care of the life and health of the woman.

The Roe Case is a gripping documentary, dating back to the 1960s, when therapeutic abortion was allowed (and not always), but women were subjected to humiliating male committees that had to approve them. Since 1 in 4 women interrupted their pregnancy and many of them illegally and with risk to their health. Illegal abortions yielded chilling figures of complications and deaths that the film details.

Throughout the film they are interviewed, among others, a gynecologist who practices abortions, lawyers and legislators who had a prominent role in defending the right to practice it (such as Kathryn Colbert) and lobbyists of the self-styled "pro-life" group, such as the chilling Troy Newman, President of Operation Rescue, Tony Perkins and Phyllis Schlafy. Within the first group, one of the interviewees is a Protestant minister who tells us about the surprising role of the Protestant churches, their ministers and chaplains in planned parenthood during the 60s and 70s.

There are multiple variables and actors presented in the archive material of this remarkable documentary by Rick Stern and Annie Sundberg. It analyzes how the objective of limiting and finally prohibiting abortion was fundamentally based on reducing the scope of the Roe ruling, hindering its application in several States through various regulations on planned parenthood clinics and the introduction of new legal figures that the film details. And the attempts to annul it by modifying the composition of the Supreme Court. In addition, other rulings that the Court issued over time are analyzed.

The record of how the role of the Republican Party and the position on abortion of some of its prominent figures changed over time is interesting. The opposition to abortion in principle was not a "political" issue, and was not part of the platform, the agenda and the electoral campaigns of that party (and of parties in general) and began being led by the Catholic Church. But from its alliance with the electorate and the Episcopal churches (evangelists) and other conservative groups, the campaign against legal abortion became central in the Republican electoral platform and in the state policies of its governors. The archive images of several of them (some very recent) show the variety of policies that hinder legal abortion applied by those governors. All this originated and originates displacement of patients from the republican States to the most permissive ones and of doctors towards the states where there are fewer and fewer professionals who practice abortion.

On the other hand, the "pro-life" groups besieged the clinics where abortions were performed, their professionals, and the patients, and did not hesitate to physically attack the doctors, even murdering several of them. Regarding the terminology of these groups (abortion as "murder", etc.), we can see that it is reproduced in other countries. Joyce Carol Oates's novel A Book of American Martyrs masterfully develops this theme.

Behind the Republican position, there are also economic considerations (when not), due to the fact that since abortion is a constitutional right, Family Planning should be financed by the State and the Republicans wanted to eliminate said financing. As for the Democratic Party, it was always favorable to the legal interruption of pregnancy and to support the ruling Roe vs. Wade.

The film and its ominous ending (it is from 2018) take on a sad but powerful validity from the decision of the US Supreme Court of Justice to annul the Roe vs. Wade ruling, taken on 6/24/2022, causing a cataract of laws in several states prohibiting it. This revocation clearly appears as the culmination of the process that the documentary describes so well.

Very well-done BALANCED documentary

[SteverB · 9/10 · 18 October 2018]

The abortion debate is still fraught with people who refuse to accept reality, as is shown very well in this film. I see many complaints here that the pro-life side was not represented well and they all look like a bunch of religious zealots. There is even one review that falsely claims that there were no pro-life women in the film when there were plenty. As usual on the pro-life side, just lies, lies, and more lies.

The fact is that most pro-life advocates lean on their religious zealotry to give them credibility in their own minds. Apparently, with nothing else to do but try to run other people's lives, this is their most favored method of control. In addition, men have been making decisions about abortion for decades when it is CLEARLY a woman's choice about what she wants to do with her own body. And for the reviewer that tried the prostitution argument, no, prostitution does not fall into this sphere as it affects with other people.

The abortion debate, tiresome as it has become, will probably go on for many more years. Don't think for a second that the possible overturning of Roe v. Wade will stop it. It won't. The types of people driving the protests NEED to be controlling other people, and it REALLY upsets them when they find out that there are people in the world that don't think like they do.

Very good film. I encourage ALL to view it.

Very difficult to watch.

[nyduelee · 8/10 · 7 July 2022]

This is not a a political issue, it's not a religious issue. They keep saying we have freedom in the US. Not so! So idk why people are setting off fireworks and celebrating this country with its mass shootings and making woman turn back to to dark ages of killing themselves because they can not have a baby.

What to do/decide?

[kosmasp · 8/10 · 27 March 2019]

More relevant than ever - with another entry approved last year, that was also very controversial. But then again, what isn't controversial with the Trump administration? Just when you thought nothing could be more divisive than Faux News bashing anything (really anything) President Obama did and heating up and splitting many parts of America ... there came Trump.

But the documentary is not about Trump. It is about a moment in time, when something was rushed. And it should not matter what Party you belong to: decency should know no party affiliation. But we know this isn't true. We also know that looking from the outside in, it is easier to distinguish certain things. It is also true that other countries have issues. But one thing at a time and a look back (with parallels to now) gives you a really good documentary ... Some things will be harder to swallow than others. Don't expect this to be an easy watch

Biased beyond belief

[redwinger2001-617-732372 · 4/10 · 3 November 2018]

This documentary is so obviously biased that I see it as a political hit piece by the left. Once again painting conservatives as religious nut jobs and white bigoted men. This is why there is not a serious discussion to be had on abortion. The left will do whatever it takes to make the right look like the ones in the wrong.

Good balanced movie

[gwendolynk-47294 · 8/10 · 22 April 2021]

As a very pro-choice female, I was certainly angered by some of the blatant lies perpetuated by almost all of the anti-choice actors in this argument. It was even more disturbing seeing males dominate that side of the argument. This film will make you angry no matter what side of the spectrum you fall on, but it does do a good job of presenting an accurate account of what each side represents. The worst part of watching this film was seeing the blatant manipulation of politics. Our democratic republic is a sham.

Speaks on harsh modern topic from all perspectives

[hklitzner-80079 · 8/10 · 7 December 2020]

The documentary on Netflix called "Reversing Roe" is very interesting, it discusses the argument that keeps taking place when discussing Roe v Wade, if you don't know what that is, it is the right that the Supreme court ruled which allows women to legally get an abortion while being protected under the constitution. This documentary gave various viewpoints which made me mad while hearing what the bible thumpers had to say about a women's body, but happy to hear that many doctors are fighting to keep Roe v wade. With Trump as the president, many doctors and pro-choice people were getting scared about having their right to abortion get taken away. In context to now with Amy Barett in the supreme court, I would assume most abortion clinics, doctors, and women overall are scared. As a woman, I am scared for my rights to get taken away. This documentary discusses what has been going on with Roe v Wade for the past 50 years. I hope that this documentary will give people more insight as to why planned parenthood should stay funded, and receive more funding. This film gives insight into the religious aspect of abortion vs the medical and human rights aspect. I would recommend this documentary to anyone over the ages of 14. Younger females wouldn't be able to grasp the concept in such depth as they would once they have hit puberty, have taken a health class, or been informed by their parents about general anatomy. I would also recommend this to people who are uneducated on the topic of abortion or women's health and are willing to be open-minded by seeing both sides of views.

SPIN!

[mbgrafix-483-758568 · 1/10 · 20 September 2018]

This film pretends to be a documentary presenting the abortion argument in a factual manner, however it spins so far left that it should not qualify as a documentary at all...but rather it is nothing more than thinly veiled, pro-abortion propaganda.

Pretty disappointed

[wdexkin · 3/10 · 29 September 2018]

Was really hoping for both sides to have fair representation, but the filmmaker's biases became pretty obvious 30 minutes into the film. Enjoyed the historical parts, and it's obviously a well put together film, but in terms of being a great documentary, this film falls short. Too many loose facts, too little representation from females and doctors on the pro-life side, and really obvious agendas makes for this film to be less of a documentary and more of a propaganda piece. All in all, pretty disappointed...could've been much better.

Hardly even an attempt to be unbiased.

[rosemarymcglone · 1/10 · 17 September 2018]

No interviews from Doctors who are against abortions and why. In fact no medical experts or scientists at all from the pro-life side. No mention at all of the rates of suicide, anxiety and mental health issues amongst woman who have had one or more abortions and how trying to lower the abortion limit will have positive impact on women's health. No mention of the multi-billion dollar profits that the abortion providers make each year and how they target minority areas and poor areas. The pie-chart that took centre stage and talked about how only 1% of abortions took place after 24 weeks failed to talk numbers - since roe v Wade that's 1% of 56 million, no small number. Ridiculously biased.

Misrepresents the Pro-Life movement

[robles-o · 1/10 · 23 January 2019]

If you are pro coice and want to confirm your bias this is for you but if you want the truth about both sides of the argument please look elsewhere.

Biased and superficial

[lillightjc-85500 · 1/10 · 27 January 2020]

To learn the real story, watch the movie, "Unplanned", based on the true story of a Clinic Director at Planned Parenthood.