A few weeks ago I took my daughters (ages 13 and 19) to see the movie Unplanned. My husband had been hearing about it on talk radio and I had seen complaints about promotions for the movie being removed from Twitter and Facebook. We usually don’t go to see first run new movies at the theater, but we felt that it was important to get out there and support this movie to help send a message. So I looked up the times, found a theater, and we headed out.
When we got to the theater, the movie was not listed on the marquee. I double checked the information on my phone and it was listed as playing there, so we got out of the car and went in. Sure enough, we were in the right place, and the movie was there. It’s interesting that they weren’t advertising it outside though.
I had been prepared for this viewing. I knew that the movie had earned an R rating, but when I did further research, they said that this was for some blood, a CGI simulation of abortion on ultrasound, and because of the subject matter. I told my girls about it and I think that was enough to prepare them, particularly my sensitive 13-year-old.
The scene with the simulated abortion was pretty close to the beginning of the movie. The filmmakers didn’t waste any time taking the audience to the moment that was supposed to be so pivotal to the main character. I knew that was going to be the hardest thing for my girls to watch (and me too!) so I’m glad that was handled and out of the way so that I could watch the rest of the movie and not dread that particular scene.
Overall, I think this was a good and fair representation of the abortion industry and what goes on around it. While Gosnell was horrific, this movie portrayed more of the average, every day Planned Parenthood. The office and the staff were portrayed as clinical and professional. The employees weren’t demonized and in fact, there was a scene where they got to explain why they thought what they were doing was good and even Godly work. In one scene, they even threw a baby shower for Abby.
At the same time, the pro-lifers outside weren’t portrayed as totally angelic and saintly either. Hecklers, name callers, a guy dressed up as the Grim Reaper, weren’t really helpful to the other folks that were trying to give a prayerful, and compassionate presence to the women going into the Planned Parenthood Building. I think it was honest and helpful to show both sides that way.
The portrayal of Abby Johnson was honest as well. Her first two pregnancies ended with abortions – the first at the clinic and the second after taking Plan B medication and miscarrying at home. She stayed as an employee and then director at a Planned Parenthood because she truly felt that she was helping women who were in difficult situations with no apparent way out.
Two specific scenes stayed with me. Abby’s second abortion, where she was given medication and told that she would experience mild cramping at home was a little hard to watch. Abby woke up at home, alone, in great pain, passing big blood clots, scared and alone.
The other scene involved a teenager girl, brought in by her father for an abortion. She suffered a perforated uterus and lost a lot of blood, yet the director of the clinic refused to call for an ambulance or backup medical help. She eventually was stabilized and walked out hours later looking ashen and frail. Her father was never given any information that anything untoward had happened. That was terrifying.
I thought it was also telling that when the doctor ran back into the room to treat this girl, he literally pushed Abby rather violently out of the way. It seemed to me that he had little or no respect for the other women in the room, maybe because of the work they did? or maybe because after performing so many abortions he no longer respected women in general? I don’t know.
Overall I think it was an eyeopener for my daughters. We talked about how they should always come to me or their dad with anything! We also talked a lot about abortion and making good life choices.
I know a lot of homeschool moms were reluctant to take their kids to see this, but overall, if your teens are mature and you’re willing to have some tough, deep conversations afterward, I think it’s a worthwhile movie to see together.
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