SF INDIE FEST 2024 REVIEW! Director-writer Ruth Leitman’s documentary No One Asked You follows Daily Show co-creator Lizz Winstead’s organization, Abortion Access Front. When the U.S. Supreme Court was on the cusp of rolling back Roe v Wade, this group was on the front lines fighting for reproductive rights. Winstead and a passionate, committed band of activists travel to abortion clinics and events to support abortion rights and to lend a hand to clinic staff. The intake process for patients is discussed with nurses, doctors, and escorts who work at abortion clinics in battleground states. Leitman filmed harassment and intimidation by protestors, politicians, and domestic terrorists. The film also highlights a lack of attention from the media on the abortion rights struggle.
Along with informative shows and performances to raise awareness (and funds), Abortion Access Front assists with rebuilding clinics that have sustained damage from protests. Leitman also explores the horrifically fraudulent Crisis Pregnancy Care (CPC) “clinics.” The CPC is generally a church-funded organization that advertises itself as a legitimate reproductive health care clinic providing care for pregnant women but does not have doctors nor provide any medical services. Their goal is to dissuade women from seeking abortion care, push anti-contraceptive messages, and promote dogmatic religion-based ethics systems. As legitimate abortion care facilities diminish under the onslaught of red-state laws banning or limiting abortion, the number of these CPC fake “clinics” is exploding across the country. These organizations are the “spam” of reproductive health care.
“…a passionate, committed band of activists travel to abortion clinics and events to support abortion rights…”
The documentary was started during the time just before Roe V. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court and covers that event, showing how Abortion Access Front responded to the decision and how they intend to navigate into the future.
Winstead is shown in 2017 on the road with her “Vagical Mystery Tour,” and her quote on the website for the tour tells the story: “…it was so rewarding to provide a helping hand, to spread awareness, to register voters, to help de-stigmatize abortion! We met some incredible abortion providers along the way and heard the stories of all the ways they help people and all the ways sidewalk screamers hinder them. And we had some fun counter-protesting those fetalists who harass clinic workers daily.”
Winstead and Leitman continue to make the case with this film that Women’s rights are human rights. When it comes to fundamental inalienable rights, nothing is more essential and obvious than autonomy over one’s own physical person.
The film is sure to stir emotions for viewers on all sides of the issue, with its in-depth look at what challenges the staff members of the clinics overcome to serve their patients, as well as the nightmare experience the patients must endure to get the services they need. We also see firsthand the inexhaustible Winstead slogging through events, performances, and interviews. A potential promise of codifying reproductive rights into federal law is hanging in the balance in the 2024 election cycle. Such a law would also reinforce the separation of church and state. Given the current political climate, No One Asked You is a timely and immediately relevant documentary that is required viewing.
No One Asked You screened at the 2024 SF Indie Fest.
"…on the front lines fighting for reproductive rights."
