Ask for Jane is a 2018 American historical drama film created and produced by Cait Cortelyou, and written and directed by Rachel Carey. The film stars Cait Cortelyou, Cody Horn, Sarah Ramos, Sarah Steele and Sophie von Haselberg.[1]

Ask for Jane
Directed byRachel Carey
Screenplay byRachel Carey
Based onJane Collective
Produced byCait Cortelyou
Josh Folan
Caroline Hirsch
StarringCait Cortelyou
Cody Horn
Sarah Ramos
Sarah Steele
Sophie von Haselberg
CinematographyCaitlin Machak
Edited byUlysses Guidotti
Music byDaisy Coole
Tom Nettleship
Production
companies
Caroline's Entertainment
NYEH Entertainment
Raptor Films
Release date
2018
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The film is based on the true story about the Jane Collective, an underground abortion network which was active in Chicago between 1969 and 1973. The Jane Collective helped over 11,000 women obtain illegal abortions before Roe v. Wade was passed. Ask for Jane is the first ever narrative feature film about the Jane Collective.[2][3]

Plot edit

In 1973, a group of women are arrested for being involved in an underground abortion network in Chicago. They flashback to four years before.

Patty drops out of school and runs away from home because she is pregnant. Rose successfully convinces Patty to get an abortion, which was illegal at the time.

Donna attempts to become a sex education teacher to replace sister Anne Marie. However, principal Rafferty denies Donna's request, citing the fact that there had been no complaints in the past 40 years she had been working there. Donna sneaks a book about birth control into the library.

Barb reveals her pregnancy, and suggests marrying Tim. Tim suggests an abortion, but decides to marry her instead.

Rose, Patty, and Janice graduate college. Rose and Janice decide to create the Women's Liberation Meeting (also known as the Jane Collective), which becomes very popular. The members of the meeting began searching for abortion doctors and directing pregnant women to them. Janice receives a call which threatens to report the group to the police. Rose breaks up with her fiancée, Bill. Donna is fired from her job after a student reports her. The group of women organize a protest for abortion rights. A police officer asks the group to lie low, and decides not to arrest anybody.

The group learns that Dr. Charlie lied about his medical license and pretended to be a doctor. They realize that Charlie had experience in abortions, and decided to keep him. Charlie teaches Janice how to perform an abortion. Soon after, many of the women also learn how to perform abortions.

The entire group is arrested but they are released on bond shortly afterwards. They gain national attention. Their trials begin. However, they are acquitted and their charges are dismissed due to the Supreme court case Roe v. Wade.

Cast edit

Production and release edit

The film is produced by Caroline's Entertainment's Caroline Hirsch and NYEH's Entertainment Josh Folan.[5] The film received a production grant from Awesome Without Borders.[6][7] In 2016, the limited series Ask For Jane was one of three finalists in the New York Television Festival Works 4 Progress Initiative.[8][9][10]

Judith Arcana, a writer, activist, and real-life member of the Jane Collective is a consulting producer on the film, in addition to making a cameo appearance.[11][12]

References edit

  1. ^ Busch, Anita (2017-07-26). "'Ask For Jane': Competing Underground Abortion Project Underway". Deadline. Retrieved 2017-11-09.
  2. ^ Cills, Hazel. "Everyone's Trying to Make a Movie About Jane, the Illegal Abortion Collective From the '70s". Jezebel. Retrieved 2017-11-09.
  3. ^ Swartz, Tracy. "2 films to focus on Jane Collective, Chicago's underground network for abortion access". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2017-11-09.
  4. ^ Carey, Rachel (2018), Ask for Jane, Cody Horn, Alison Wright, Sarah Ramos, retrieved 2017-11-09
  5. ^ "Ask For Jane - A Feature Film by Rachel Carey". nyehentertainment.com. Retrieved 2017-11-09.
  6. ^ ""Ask for Jane" - Awesome Without Borders". Awesome Without Borders. Retrieved 2017-11-09.
  7. ^ "The Awesome Foundation : Ask for Jane". www.awesomefoundation.org. Retrieved 2017-11-09.
  8. ^ "NYWIFT New Works Lab Project Ask For Jane to be Made into a Feature Film". Retrieved 2017-11-09.
  9. ^ "Works for Progress". nytvf.com. Retrieved 2017-11-09.
  10. ^ "Rachel Carey's Film About Chicago's Underground Abortion Network Goes into Production". Women and Hollywood. 2017-07-27. Retrieved 2017-11-11.
  11. ^ Blanchard, Jacklynn (June 19, 2017). "Q&A: Cait Johnston and Judith Arcana on Abortion in Media and Making Ask for Jane". Ms. Magazine. Retrieved November 9, 2017.
  12. ^ "What Will Happen to Abortion if Roe v. Wade is Overturned". Bitch Media. Retrieved 2017-11-09.

External links edit