A new documentary exploring the criminalization of pregnant women as seen through the eyes of a young mother swept up in dangerous new laws.
SYNOPSIS
PERSONHOOD traces the rise of the fetal rights movement and reveals a widening web of laws that encourage the surveillance and criminalization of pregnant women. The film follows the story of a young mother from rural Wisconsin whose life was upended by the state’s 'Unborn Child Protection Act.' After seeking medical care upon discovering she was pregnant, Tammy Loertscher unwittingly set off a nightmarish chain of events that stripped her of her rights and ultimately sent her to jail – all for behavior that occurred before she even knew she was pregnant.
PERSONHOOD asks the alarming question—could this happen to you?
Supporter Statement
“Personhood” examines what happens when women’s truths and needs are ignored…In these politically charged times “Personhood” shows that a “Handmaid’s Tale”-esque society isn’t as far in the dystopian future as one would like to think.” Beandrea July, Women and Hollywood
ABOUT FILMMAKER(S)
Jo Ardinger
Jo is a director and Telly and CINE Golden Eagle Award-winning editor and founder of Tandybrook Productions.
Her recent documentary editing credits include Imba Means Sing (Best Humanitarian Documentary, Global Film Awards, 2016), Beyond The Visible: The Story of the Very Large Array, narrated by Jodi Foster; and PBS documentaries, Into Deepest Space: The Birth of the ALMA Observatory and Papa Boss. Her other work includes the Military Channel’s Lions of Babylon: A Soldier’s Diary and Discovery’s Fantastic Festivals of the World: Hong Kong Dragon Boat Carnival. Ardinger is also a guest instructor at the University of Washington, where she teaches digital storytelling in science.
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Women Make Movies (WMM), Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit media arts organization registered with the New York Charities Bureau of New York State and accepts charitable donations on behalf of this project. Your donation will be spent by the filmmaker(s) toward the production and completion of this media project. No services or goods are provided by Women Make Movies, the filmmaker(s) or anyone else associated with this project in exchange for your charitable donation.
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