Lake of Fire: Tony Kaye's Abortion Documentary
Balanced Film from American History X Director
Jul 22, 2008
Lake of Fire is the recent film by Tony Kaye, director of the controversial Ed Norton skinhead flick American History X. This time Kaye tries his hand at making a documentary on the abortion debate which has been so intense in America for so long.
Unbiased
The film doesn’t take sides, which may be its strongest virtue. Both the pro-life and pro-choice viewpoints are explored thoroughly, and neither one is given even an iota more credence than the other. The documentary provides interviews with various experts—from philosophers, to law professors, to clergy, to biologists—and they all weigh in on both sides of the issue with intelligence and purpose.
Nuanced
While doing an excellent job of presenting facts and arguments on both sides of the abortion debate, this film goes a step further. Here, the audience is given philosophical and ethical reasoning which resonates with the complexity and nuance that this debate demands. Tough questions are asked, and priorities are examined. In the end, it’s still up to the audience to make up their own minds; but viewers will certainly be more properly educated, enlightened, and inspired after viewing this film.
Emotional
The film, however, is not all pragmatism and well-balanced insights. This is one of the most emotionally-charged issues in contemporary America. People on both sides of the issue have given up their jobs and devoted their lives to the cause. Some people have even gone as far as murdering abortion doctors because they feel so passionately about the issue (which the film addresses in some detail). So, certainly, there are a lot of emotional pleas, and emotive language from both camps. The pro-lifers offer gruesome shots of ripped apart fetuses, and heartfelt beliefs that abortion supporters will burn in the “lake of fire.” On the other side, pro-choice activists detail the grisly coat hanger abortions that women often had to resort to before Roe V. Wade, a lot of times ending in death for the women.
Graphic
The film also shows various graphic images surrounding abortion, several of which are haunting. (It is in fact Not Rated).
Clearly, there are a whole array of emotions, arguments, philosophical, ethical, and biological reasoning to be examined in the abortion debate. In this film they are given the careful consideration, respect, and attention that they deserve. This abortion documentary may prove to be one of the quintessential sources of insight on the complex issue. And it may actually raise more questions for you than answers. That fact leads one to believe this argument between pro-life and pro-choice activists may rage on well into the future. Hopefully, both sides can soon come to the respectful, balanced conclusions that this film extrapolates, instead of resorting to violence and derision.
