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The Janes

Play trailer 2:23 Poster for The Janes 2022 1h 41m Documentary History Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 67 Reviews 69% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
In the spring of 1972, police raided an apartment on the South Side of Chicago. Seven women were arrested and charged. The accused were part of a clandestine network. Using code names, blindfolds, and safe houses to protect their identities and their work, they built an underground service for women seeking safe, affordable, illegal abortions. They called themselves Jane.
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The Janes

The Janes

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Critics Consensus

Frighteningly timely and powerfully persuasive, The Janes offers a unique opportunity to look back at a pivotal chapter in American history through the eyes of those who helped define it.

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Critics Reviews

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Judy Berman TIME Magazine Through individual interviews, a composite image forms of a society touched on every level by half its population’s lack of bodily autonomy. Dec 14, 2022 Full Review Doreen St. Felix New Yorker You don’t watch The Janes for aesthetic pleasure. The palette is sober, and the filmmaking itself is recalcitrant, in service always of its tremendous story. But there is one moment I found indelible... Dec 8, 2022 Full Review Sophie Gilbert The Atlantic The lesson from The Janes is that, in the absence of justice and political power, there's enormous potential for collective action. Jun 30, 2022 Full Review Sarah Vincent Cambridge Day The film excels at conveying a chaotic era, enlisting archival footage and interviews with Jane members, medical providers and a reluctant, gentle-giant abortionist. Rated: 3/4 Aug 16, 2023 Full Review Sarah Boslaugh TheArtsStl Since many women in the United States are essentially living in a pre-Roe world these days, this film couldn’t be more timely... Rated: 8/10 Jan 3, 2023 Full Review Pat Mullen POV Magazine The Janes nevertheless assembles important voices to put an essential story on the record. Ignore any apparent hastiness in the delivery, for it’s too late to return to the way things were before. Dec 14, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Actress H I'm baffled. I think this doc got such great reviews because the characters are so sympathetic and the issue is timely but damn is it boring. My wife and I fell asleep. What a slog. It's so formulaic. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 10/07/23 Full Review William P great topic but movie gets boring as it's too reliant on talking head very conventional, formulaic interviews Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 11/24/22 Full Review maureen c It's so good to see women helping women, especially during the times where extreme patriarchy rules and it's all about masculinity. It's so empowering to see these Jane members do what they could do. It's so good and, unfortunately, more timely than ever. My only wish is that they could have interviewed 2 or 3 more people who are willing to talk about their abortion at the hands of Jane. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member An excellent documentary about a group of young women in the mid '60s who started helping women obtain safe abortions. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Audience Member So inspiring and educational. Sad to see they may need to be resurrected with a new generation. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/23/23 Full Review Audience Member The greatest 01 hour: and 41 minutes ever from a true story!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Janes

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis In the spring of 1972, police raided an apartment on the South Side of Chicago. Seven women were arrested and charged. The accused were part of a clandestine network. Using code names, blindfolds, and safe houses to protect their identities and their work, they built an underground service for women seeking safe, affordable, illegal abortions. They called themselves Jane.
Director
Tia Lessin, Emma Pildes
Producer
Emma Pildes, Jessica Levin, Daniel Arcana
Production Co
HBO Documentary Films, Pentimento Productions
Genre
Documentary, History
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 8, 2022
Runtime
1h 41m
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