THE CHOICE
US, 1081, 96 minutes, Colour.
Susan Clark, Jennifer Warren, Mitchell Ryan.
Directed by David Greene.
The Choice is a moving telemovie which explores the reality of abortion in contemporary American society. The film focuses on a crisis with a 20-year-old and her facing the choice to have an abortion or not. She confides in her mother who reveals that she has had an abortion in her late 30s. The major part of the film is flashback showing the experience of the mother, the family dilemma, her relationship with her husband, the impact of the anti-abortion groups, the treatment by the pro-abortion clinic, her own personal experience, shared experience of other women undergoing abortion. The film then leaves the question for the audience - with the daughter finally asking her mother would she have an abortion in similar circumstances as her own.
The film is particularly well-acted by Susan Clark as the mother. Jennifer Warren is very good as her friend - who describes the experience of having an illegal abortion in the past. Mitchell Ryan shows the desperation of the middle-aged man not going anywhere in his career. The film was directed by David Greene, director of many telemovies and miniseries including Roots.
Well worth while discussing in family circles, senior school groups.
1. The impact of the telemovie, its focusing on significant social and moral issues?
2. The telemovie style, the similarities to soap operas and television series: characters, situations, emotional treatment, the appeal to understanding and reason?
3. The screenplay and the initial focus on Lisa and Michael, their contemporary situation, the question of abortion? The major part of the film focussing on Kaye and her experience? The ending with the final questions left open? The film's presentation of intellectual and emotional arguments for and against abortion?
4. Younger audiences identifying with Lisa, her initial anxiety, her love for Michael, their living together, his future, job, her anxiety with her friend, her anger at the flute-player, her decision to go home, discussing with her mother, her anger at her father interrogating Michael?
5. The portrait of Kaye as mother, her ability to talk with her daughter, the bond between the two? Lisa thinking she wouldn't understand the pregnancy? Kaye and her memories: her successful work as a mother and bringing up Lisa, her middle age, her friendship with Marsha, her going to work, meeting with the ladies - and their women's talk? The scene of her getting up in the morning and going to work, the contrast with Jerry's reluctance? The growing alienation between the two despite their love for each other? Her symptoms of illness? The visit to the doctor, the revelation of her pregnancy? Jerry's refusal to talk? The discussions with Marsha, the impact of Marsha's story about her own abortion? Her moving towards a decision? The visit to the anti-abortion clinic, the charm of the counsellor, the grim photos, her walking out? Her going to the abortion clinic, the matter-of-fact treatment, the counsellors? Her making the decision - how seriously, the social situation, family situation? Her clarifying her motivations? The visit to Lisa and Lisa's preoccupations with Michael? Unable to talk to Jerry? Her catching him going away? Her feeling alone, reliance on Marsha? Her going to the clinic, the final decision, waiting with the other women but having to go outside? The experience of the abortion and its effect on her? The young girl going to Hawaii with the money from the several putative fathers, the women put in by boyfriends, the woman with the saline treatment and the fear of the child with Downs Syndrome? Her staying to help with the difficult birth? The return home, the reconciliation with Jerry? The revelation for Lisa? Her stating that the heart knows the answer to the dilemma? What is right? How would she have answered Lisa's question?
6. Jerry and his mid-life crisis, a good man, tired, working and interviewing people for loans, the possibility of promotion, his associate and the scale of promotion, his turning against him, the racism within Jerry? The experience of being overlooked, trapped in a job? The attraction towards Tina, going away with her? His anger at Kaye and not listening to her? His speech to the not listening Tina and the audience understanding his anger? His return, standing on his rights about the child, admitting that he was wrong? Talking to Michael - and being more understanding?
7. Marsha as a friend, professional, a model for Kaye, her style, her being anti-housewife? The story of her abortion in Tijuana and its ugliness? Her anger at Jerry, support of Kaye?
8. The world of money, loans, people being upwardly mobile? Middle age and being trapped? Tina and her exploiting of Jerry?
9. The impact of the anti-abortion clinic, the smooth talking counsellor, the use of photos and grim tactics?
10. The abortion clinic, the sympathy, the toughness, the information about the use of tubes? The reality of the clinic and the operations?
11. The counsellors at the abortion clinic, their not working after hours? The women and their various reasons for their abortions? The decision of Kaye to help the woman with the 19-week pregnancy, the saline treatment as the 'heartbreaker'? The visual impact of the abortion? The repercussions on the women physically, psychologically?
12. The procedure and its aftermath?
13. The pros and cons of abortion: how objective was the film, subjective? Facts? Ethical issues, legal issues, moral issues? The audience left to make the decision? The right to this kind of choice?
