'October Baby' Success Concerns Pro-Choice Activists
I admit I'm a bit surprised at this myself. Even though it opened on the same weekend as the much ballyhooed "Hunger Games," the pro-life film "October Baby," has a tremendous amount of buzz. As Entertainment Weekly put it:
As Katniss Everdeen fought for her freedom on screens across the country, a humble pro-life film called October Baby quietly opened in just 390 theaters. That modest release, which co-stars Jasmine Guy and John Schneider, ended up earning a cool $1,718,000 — enough to put it among the weekend’s top eight earners.
There's only one thing to do with movies that resonate with filmgoers -- it's expanding to 500 theaters this weekend. I haven't seen it but I have been surprised to hear good reviews from friends who are apolitical.
The media is responding to this by writing articles such as "What October Baby Gets Wrong About Modern Womanhood" (Slate). The New York Times wrote a news story about the film, which it summarizes as:
“October Baby” tells the story of Hannah, 19, a home-schooled Baptist who is told by a doctor that her ailments — asthma, seizures, moodiness — are the result of being born prematurely after an abortion attempt.
Hannah sets out to find her birth mother, a quest that ends in tears and, ultimately, a lesson in forgiveness delivered by a Catholic priest.
It was inspired by the story of Gianna Jessen, who says she was delivered alive at a California clinic after a late-term saline-injection abortion. As a paid speaker at anti-abortion events she tells of her struggles and medical conditions. (The film doesn’t get into the science, but a 1985 study published in Obstetrics & Gynecology examined 33,000 suction curettage abortions and found a failure rate of 2.3 per 1,000 at the 12-weeks or earlier.)
Though “October Baby” arrives at a moment when reproductive rights and women’s sexual health are again part of a robust national debate, its makers say they weren’t acting with a political agenda.
“I was just dumbfounded by a true story,” said Jon Erwin, 29, a co-writer and a producer of the movie, which he directed with his brother Andrew, 33. “I didn’t see it as a political issue.”
The Erwin brothers, who were home-schooled in what they described as a Christian household, said they voted Republican and considered themselves conservatives. But, they said, they did not think deeply about the abortion debate until they heard Ms. Jessen speak. “I began to research it because I didn’t know there was such a thing as an abortion survivor,” Jon Erwin said. “I’m an artist — sometimes the way artists process things is through art. I just felt I had to put this perspective on film.”
I had never really heard of surviving an abortion and was surprised the figure was so high. I believe there are about 1.4 million abortions annually in the United States alone. If there are 2.3 survivors per 1,000 abortions, that means we're talking about several thousands of abortion survivors each year, right?
If I were reporting this story, I'd want to know what happens when an abortion "fails." Is the "failure to kill the embryo" rate higher for later-term abortions? I'd imagine that most women who are aiming to end pregnancies would go back for another round at the abortion clinic. I could also see some women taking it as a sign not to end their pregnancy. The media never seem to be terribly interested in reporting stories that undermine the central teachings of the Church of Planned Parenthood, however. So I don't imagine we'll see much acknowledgement that an abortion "failure" means the human child in the womb keeps living.
And you can imagine how a movie depicting one abortion survival out of these thousands is characterized by abortion activists:
[T]he abortion rights organization Naral Pro-Choice America contends that the film is tied to an extreme anti-abortion message. A spokesman, Ted Miller, added that his group was “concerned that some proceeds from this film could be going to organizations that may intentionally mislead women about their health-care options.”
It's so interesting how half of the country is pro-life but any acknowledgement of that side of the argument sends the elite media and other abortion rights supporters into a tizzy.
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Re: 'October Baby' Success Concerns Pro-Choice Activists
By the way, I find it fascinating how much skepticism is involved in this particular NYTimes report -- and not in others. For instance:
I don't recall such questioning, such demands for substantiation in a story where claims are made by those the New York Times supports.
Re: 'October Baby' Success Concerns Pro-Choice Activists
I have to share what one reporter just messaged me about the way this story is written:
Feb '11
Re: 'October Baby' Success Concerns Pro-Choice Activists
I don't think that continuing the pregnancy is an option. The fetus comes out but remains alive. The Illinois bill requiring doctors to help such a baby was the one that famously had one Nay, that of State Senator Barack Obama.
May '11
Re: 'October Baby' Success Concerns Pro-Choice Activists
Given the estimates shown above, there are 3220 abortion survivors each year. One can only hope that they grow up as happy, loved children and then adults considering how they were treated at their start.
At 1.4 million abortions per year, whatever happened to available, safe but rare?
Aug '11
Re: 'October Baby' Success Concerns Pro-Choice Activists
I have a cousin who had an abortion in the early 1980s. She was 16 yrs old at the time. We were all shocked to discover later that the abortion had not removed the fetus. She had the child, and later became a born again Christian. Her son died last year. His heart had been damaged in the attempt and his growth had been stunted. It was a miracle he lived so long.
Jun '10
Re: 'October Baby' Success Concerns Pro-Choice Activists
An interesting inside story:
October Baby Stories 01: "Shari"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rl1zNt2R5U0
Jan '11
Re: 'October Baby' Success Concerns Pro-Choice Activists
Gotta control the information. We can't allow the public to hear about any other point of view.
Dec '10
Re: 'October Baby' Success Concerns Pro-Choice Activists
Mollie,
The huge bias inside the movie industry disrupts making projects of this type. Next the huge media bias of the MSM tries to destroy the film through review. If a project survives this gauntlet one should consider it a miracle.
The fact that this movie is succeeding and expanding is fantastic. Nothing could make the phenomenal bias more evident than whining MSM commentators desperately trying to put the genie back in the bottle.
How much fun can we have.
Regards,
Jim
Jul '10
Re: 'October Baby' Success Concerns Pro-Choice Activists
Movies like this and Mel Gibson's Passion put the lie to the idea Hollywood will make any kind of movie people want to see if there's a market for it. There's clearly a market not being served, but because it offends Hollywood's sensibilities, they refuse to touch movies about these subjects.
Oct '10
Re: 'October Baby' Success Concerns Pro-Choice Activists
Modern technology is such a miracle. The Hollywood insiders will take a pass on anything with a real message. But now, indies and other "small fry" have access to the technology without undergoing the gauntlet of political correctness.
I first heard Gianna Jessen when we interviewed her at Focus on the Family. She was a teenager at the time, and her story remains a stunning example of God's grace.
The gift of cerebral palsy is a reminder of her struggle to survive. No amount of human effort and evil intent could stop that heart.
Mar '11
Re: 'October Baby' Success Concerns Pro-Choice Activists
I do like watching IMDB voting figures on this kind of movie. It is early days yet (only 934 votes). More than half have given this movie 10/10, but the weighted average (which gives much more weight to regular IMDB voters than to newbies) is just 4.4/10. The median is 10 (as it must be, given the >50% 10/10 vote) and the unweighted mean is 7.4.
Some 20.6% of voters give it the lowest possible score, 1/10.
A 1/10 vote on something made with reasonable competence isn't a vote on the merits, but a protest about the subject matter.
The Passion of the Christ, a quite orthodox movie on Christ's final hours, scores a protest vote of 8.5%. The Last Temptation of Christ, a revisionist piece that denies the resurrection, scores a protest vote of just 3.7%.
Intolerant Christians, huh?
May '10
Re: 'October Baby' Success Concerns Pro-Choice Activists
Mollie Hemingway, Ed.: By the way, I find it fascinating how much skepticism is involved in this particular NYTimes report -- and not in others. For instance:
I don't recall such questioning, such demands for substantiation in a story where claims are made by those the New York Timessupports. · 3 hours ago
Yea...it's like they thought the story was written by Jayson Blair...oops, did I actually type that? ;)
Jun '10
Re: 'October Baby' Success Concerns Pro-Choice Activists
Miss Jessen's story. And, be sure to watch part 2 as well.
Apr '11
Re: 'October Baby' Success Concerns Pro-Choice Activists
I saw the movie on Sunday, and will be taking my daughter to see it tomorrow. It's surprisingly funny, considering the theme. Also, I thought I knew the basic storyline, but it takes some curves, including the part about her birth mother. That's a hankie moment, for sure. Two thumbs up!
I also noticed the "quotes" in the NY Times article - God bless 'em, they just can't help themselves.
Jun '10
Re: 'October Baby' Success Concerns Pro-Choice Activists
Mollie, thank you so much for this post. I can't wait to take a group to see it. I've already sent out my email to my organizing moms.
Mar '12
Re: 'October Baby' Success Concerns Pro-Choice Activists
Mollie Hemingway, Ed.: By the way, I find it fascinating how much skepticism is involved in this particular NYTimes report -- and not in others. For instance:
I don't recall such questioning, such demands for substantiation in a story where claims are made by those the New York Timessupports. · 4 hours ago
I liked the way the article took care to mention she was a paid speaker at pro-life events--because it would be more righteous if she didn't get paid? As far as I know, speaker's fees are pretty normal.
Mar '11
Re: 'October Baby' Success Concerns Pro-Choice Activists
I wonder if we have officially reached a point where to be rebellious is to be moral.
Mar '11
Re: 'October Baby' Success Concerns Pro-Choice Activists
Good movie, bit of a "chick flick." I was disappointed by the blooper reel at the end, thought. The director should've consulted Burt Reynolds on the bloopers.
Jun '10
Re: 'October Baby' Success Concerns Pro-Choice Activists
KC Mulville
Gotta control the information. We can't allow the public to hear about any other point of view. · 3 hours ago
Precisely. Can't have adults hear messages that confirm what their hearts tell them is true: that each life is precious.
Dec '10
Re: 'October Baby' Success Concerns Pro-Choice Activists
"It was inspired by the story of Gianna Jessen, who says she was delivered alive at a California clinic after a late-term saline-injection abortion."
My wife is a RN who used to care for women undergoing medical abortions (as opposed to elective ones). Saline injection is meant to kill the fetus, which then is delivered stillborn. If labor starts before the fetus is dead, you can end up with a live baby. My wife watched doctors who held such babies nervously, waiting to see if they would draw a breath (which would convert them from medical waste into patients). One of her colleagues did, in fact, rescue a baby from the bucket into which it was placed, after noticing it stubbornly refused to die within the allotted time.
It's important to note that medical abortions are those done for the safety and survival of the mother (or when the fetus has already died). Thus my wife would usually swaddle the aborted baby in cloth and let his or her mother hold it to say goodbye, and the rescued baby from the bucket survived neonatal intensive care and eventually went home with a grateful mother.