THE OTHER ROE is playing at SBIFF (Santa Barbara International Film Festival), and I had the opportunity to see an early look – here’s my spoiler-free take:
THE OTHER ROE is a talking-head short documentary with archival footage that covers attorney Margie Pitts Hames through her daughter, Donia Hames Robinson. The subject of the short is Doe V. Bolton, the Supreme Court case that was a companion to Roe V. Wade. The difference between the two was that Roe established the right to abortion, while Doe eliminated constraints on medical limited practices. Today, this case remains relevant, underscoring the ongoing debate over medical autonomy and women’s rights and highlighting the continued importance of protecting personal freedoms.
The little-known, at least for me, story of Doe V. Bolton is reason enough to see this sixteen-minute short film. It has enough facts, compelling interviews, and moves briskly to shine a light on the attorney, Hames, who argued for women’s rights in Doe v. Bolton.
My only nit on this lovely little film is that I wish it had spent more time focusing on Hames’s daughter, Donia. That story had the potential to drive home an empathetic connection, yet THE OTHER ROE focused more on the courtroom facts than the connective family bond.
Final Thought: This thought-provoking documentary will appeal to history buffs and fans of social justice movements. And yes, I’m ‘guilty’ of liking THE OTHER ROE, and nothing that you say will be able to ‘overturn’ that decision.
THE OTHER ROE premieres at SBIFF on Wed 2/11 – 8:40 PM