Confession: I’ve been pretty ignorant about abortion for a long time.

I knew what it meant. I knew it was a hot topic. I knew people felt strongly about it.

But it wasn’t until Wendy Davis and her filibuster in Texas, followed by the “motorcycle vagina” legislation in North Carolina, that I started to wake up. What does all of this actually mean? Why is it a hot topic? How do I feel about it?

Curious, I started to read and research – as you do when you’re a documentary filmmaker.

The more I learned, the more curious I got about it. Abortion is a complex, nuanced subject. When does life begin? Who regulates a woman’s reproductive rights? How does faith factor into a woman’s decision? Who benefits from stipulations placed on medical procedures?

The more research I did, the more questions I had about it.

So earlier this year, I watched Trapped at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival. It revealed even more about the complexity of abortion legislation and what it means for women’s reproductive rights.

The documentary helped me draw some conclusions about where I stood on the issue.

If you, too, are ready to delve deeper into the subject, I highly recommend this documentary.

There are many well crafted docs on the subject of abortion but I find this one in particular very timely, especially with what’s happening in Washington, D.C., right now.

I sincerely hope you’ll be brave and watch this movie with an open mind.

TRAPPED – Trailer from Dawn Porter on Vimeo.

Abortion is a very divisive subject.

But last week I promised not to hide, keep creating, and step up my game as a filmmaker. (ICYMI, you can read that post here.) I’m sharing movies that have helped me a lot, so that you can explore these subjects as well.

Once you watch the movie, I hope you’ll start those tough conversations with family and friends. See where they stand on the issues. Talk through them with love and kindness. Be patient with one another.

We’re moving into a new era, where being polite enough to refrain from crucial conversations is no longer acceptable. We have films like this one to better understand the world and our role within it. We must examine our own biases, and the power we have to make a difference with our voices. We must make the time to do research on our own, seeking truth, and getting information from many different sources.

Listen, I’ll never tell you what conclusions to draw and I will always respect your right to have an opinion on tough issues like this one. You have to come to conclusions on your own. Don’t let anyone else decide for you. Take the power you have to decide for yourself.

Watch this movie. Get back to me. Tell me what you think. I’d love to know.

Dr. Willie Parker is one of two doctors who perform abortions in Mississippi. He says that it’s hard for many protesters to accept that he performs abortions because he is Christian. Photo courtesy of Trapped.

Dr. Willie Parker is one of two doctors who perform abortions in Mississippi. He says that it’s hard for many protesters to accept that he performs abortions because he is Christian. Photo courtesy of Trapped.

Get more info about where to watch Trapped at trappeddocumentary.com.

More movie recommendations coming soon.