NEXT BEST PICTURE: “ZURAWSKI V TEXAS” Review
By Ema Sasic
THE STORY – A group of women denied abortions, even at the brink of death, band together with a fearless attorney to sue the state of Texas.
THE CAST – N/A
THE TEAM – Maisie Crow & Abbie Perrault (Directors/Writers)
THE RUNNING TIME – 98 Minutes
When Roe v. Wade was overturned by the United States Supreme Court in 2022, it sent shockwaves across the country. Its devastating effects were most felt when individual states, now in control of determining the law, denied or limited access to abortions to pregnant people, putting many of their lives on the line. In Texas, which has among the strictest laws in the country, abortions are banned after a fetal heartbeat is detected. Still, a doctor may perform one if they believe it’s necessary to save the patient’s life or protect their health. When that actually applies, it is a confusing toss-up, and it serves as the basis of Maisie Crow and Abbie Perrault’s emotionally unflinching documentary “Zurawski v Texas.” It’s one of this year’s must-watch films that drives home the meaning of “abortion is healthcare,” as the lives of four women, spanning circumstances and social class, are examined as they stand up to the legal system. It’s a tough watch at times, but it is vital as the fight for reproductive rights continues to rage on.
There are many moments in “Zurawski v Texas” that will make one shake their head in sheer disbelief, and its opening sequence is one prime example of the exhaustion of the fight for reproductive rights. We’re introduced to Amanda Zurawski, who was 18 weeks pregnant when she experienced a medical emergency that led to sepsis but was denied an abortion because there was still fetal cardiac activity. As she speaks to a group of senators, notably all males, the camera cuts from her to them, and the passion and rage she exudes don’t appear to impassion any of them to help people in similar situations across the country. Moments later, attorney Molly Duane, who later represents Zurawski and other women in the case against Texas, said she had been called “hysterical” for fearing a world without Roe v. Wade and what that would do to women. Should we take a guess who, or which gender, may have called her that?
As the documentary settles in, Crow and Perrault balance showing the legal proceedings of Zurawski v. Texas with the real lives of the women represented in the suit, giving viewers a better understanding of how these laws go beyond words on a page. Joining Amanda in the suit is Samantha Casiano, a young woman forced to carry her nonviable pregnancy to full term and watch her newborn child die within hours of birth. Camera crews capture a horrific scene as the family gathers to bury their baby, with Samantha hurt beyond words that she was put in this position. Though doctors in other states with less restrictive laws could have likely performed an abortion, Samantha and her husband couldn’t afford to miss out on work or hire babysitters to take care of their two young children — a very real issue that so many others face. Samantha’s testimony in court is beyond heartbreaking as she battles emotions to recount her difficult pregnancy, so much so that it makes her physically sick. There’s also Dr. Austin Dennard, an OB-GYN who was able to go to a neighboring state for an abortion. Her perspective as a doctor is so valuable in the film, showing the inner conflict she faces in providing the best care she can for her patients while also having to respect the law. She risks a prison sentence and thousands in fees if she doesn’t.
In a similar vein, “Zurawski v Texas” is astoundingly effective in showing how anti-abortion laws go against medical expertise, as well as the dangerous circumstances that pregnant people face. Some may come into this film with preconceived notions that people just want to have abortions willy-nilly, but that’s so far from the truth. Here, three women who wanted to expand their families faced the most traumatic and difficult moments of their lives, some almost dying because they were denied health care. To hear these women bear the pain that they did and, even worse, believe they failed their children is heartbreaking beyond words. That’s why “Zurawski v Texas” is as important as it is: seeing is believing, and the film will certainly open people’s eyes to real circumstances and show just how restrictive these laws are in practice. For Amanda and Austin’s family members, going through these experiences changed their stance entirely on abortion; it may have a similar effect on viewers as well. Not to mention, Texas attorneys don’t have much to say to defend their actions or support their cause: they ask the women why they didn’t reach out to the attorney general’s office to ask for an abortion – leaving an incredibly snarky response from Austin – and even go so far as to say that the only party that would be affected by abortion would be the state. How’s that for compassion and caring?
Though “Zurawski v Texas” may be straightforward and conventional in its presentation, that doesn’t take away from how vastly powerful and important this film is as it relates to current events. By exploring the lives of three pregnant women, this documentary tells an emotional and poignant tale of how health care, when it’s most needed, is compromised by politicians and a legal system that, at the end of the day, don’t seem to care about what happens to their citizens. It’s a sobering reality in this country, making “Zurawski v Texas” one of the most timely and necessary films out this year.