The film Call Jane (We are Jane) has acquired, since its unveiling in January 2022 at the Sundance Film Festival, increased relevance. Indeed, the feature film by Phyllis Nagy tells a page of American history that is little known, but suddenly glaringly topical: that of a network of clandestine abortions at the end of the 1960s, when this intervention was illegal. It remained so until 1973, when the judgment Roe v. wade made it legal. We know the rest.
“I confess that I was unaware of the existence of the Jane Collective when I read the screenplay by Hayley Schore and Roshan Sethi”, confides in an interview Phyllis Nagy, herself an esteemed playwright and screenwriter, notably of the film carol.
“It’s shameful that we don’t talk about these true American heroines in the history books. I hope this film, which uses fiction, succeeds in honoring their work while bringing them to light. I believe that we need, at this time more than ever, to reconnect with the notion of collective action. »
The film has as its protagonist Joy, a housewife in her early forties, mother of a teenager and wife of a criminal lawyer, comfortable and carefree… or almost. In fact, from its opening sequence, Call Jane seems to indicate that her heroine is beginning to question her personal values and those of the society in which she lives.
Prone to dizziness, Joy learns one day that she is pregnant, but a rare physiological condition prevents her from carrying the pregnancy to term without putting her life in danger. Will, her husband, is devastated. The couple would have gladly welcomed this child, but not to the point of risking Joy’s life. The only solution: an abortion, mentioned lip service by Joy’s obstetrician.
However, even under these conditions, obtaining an abortion proves to be mission impossible, at least legally.
The Invisible Woman
Knowing all this, we may be surprised to learn that Call Jane is often very funny.
“I immediately saw in the script an opportunity to approach this very serious subject in a relatively light way: this approach seemed fundamental to me in order to open the subject to everyone, without judgment”, explains Phyllis Nagy .
Moreover, the director screened her film in front of Republican spectators and conservative groups in order to ensure that Call Janeas assumed as he is in his pro-choice position, does not only preach to converts.
Speaking of conservative groups, there is a particularly powerful sequence in the film: that of the committee of doctors. In order to obtain, exceptionally, the abortion recommended to her by her obstetrician, Joy, accompanied by Will, must go before the said committee: a group of men who do not even care to answer the principal concerned, or even to look at her, when it addresses them.
“It’s telling, I think, that in a film that shows all kinds of abortions, the most violent sequence is this ‘meeting’ in front of the committee of doctors. All these men, all these doctors, talk about Joy, about her body, as if she weren’t there. And so it was back then. Worse: I placed the character there for the needs of the film, because in fact, Joy could not even have attended this meeting. But her husband, yes. »
At the end of this event where the character has been “invisibilized”, and where the actress Elizabeth Banks is perfect with contained fury, we feel that Joy has lost her last illusions as to her status as a woman in a society governed by and for men.
It is through research that she discovers the Jane Collective, thanks to which she will obtain an abortion that is certainly far from ideal, but safe. At first almost in spite of herself, then of her own free will, Joy got involved in the cause. She who could not study as much as she would have liked, but who is brilliant enough to write some presentations of her husband for him, will even go so far as to learn how to do and perform abortions…
Backtrack
As we mentioned, the film was written and shot well before the decision of the American Supreme Court to invalidate the judgment Roe v. wade. Since then, unsurprisingly, abortion has once again become either illegal or extremely difficult to obtain in many states.
“When I was shooting the film, the Supreme Court had just tipped in view of the three judges appointed by the president [Trump]. I knew something was coming. However, I expected that Roe v. wade be dismantled gradually, not decapitated all at once as it was. At the same time, under the circumstances, it’s almost a good thing that it happened like this, because it galvanized people, including young people who didn’t experience the avant-Roe v. wade. Of course, right now, the economy is taking over the top of the political agenda, but if people understood that abortion also has economic repercussions, that would help. »
In view of what is currently happening in the United States, does Phyllis Nagy think that secret groups such as the Jane Collective will resume service?
“I can’t believe I’m saying that, but yes, maybe. The difference is that today, communication is easier: information is disseminated instantaneously thanks to social networks, travel is a little easier… It’s still awful… In any case, if we have to there, I am convinced that the right people will come forward to ensure that it is done, and that it is done well. »