FILM SCHOOL RADIO: Zurawski v Texas – Co-directors Maisie Crow and Abbie Perrault
By Mike Kasper
In an election year where the battle over reproductive healthcare rights is at the heart of America’s political discourse, Zurawski v Texas reveals a historic courtroom challenge led by women demanding change. At the forefront is Amanda Zurawski, who suffered septic shock when doctors, constrained by restrictive abortion laws, refused to provide her with necessary medical care, leaving her ability to have children compromised. Amanda’s story is not unique. Samantha Casiano, a mother of four, faced the devastating loss of her daughter, who was diagnosed with a fatal condition in utero. Forced to carry her baby to term, Samantha endured the heartbreak of her child’s near-immediate death. Lawyer Molly Duane leads the legal fight against a Texas law so oppressive that it has made doctors fearful of acting, even when their patients’ lives are at risk. Among these doctors is Austin Dennard, a plaintiff in the case who had to travel out of state to obtain her own abortion after learning that her pregnancy had a fatal diagnosis and a miscarriage was inevitable.These deeply personal stories from the emotional core of Zurawski v Texas, a documentary that uncovers the traumatic consequences of restrictive healthcare legislation. Directed by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Maisie Crow (Jackson) and Abbie Perrault, the film exposesthe staggering personal costs of near-total abortion bans and the relentless fight to restore essential healthcare rights.
For more go to: togetherfilms.org/films/zurawski-v-texas