Call Jane at Sundance 2022 — Media Women Worldwide

Written By: Margaux Fortier

Call Jane, directed by Phyllis Nagy, is a timely exploration of change in the world of women’s health. Based on true events, Call Jane premiered at Sundance Film Festival 2022 and audiences experienced a look at an underground revolution for women in the 1960s. When Sundance Film Festival ultimately made the decision to move to a fully virtual event, the digital platform created a festival experience to viewers all over the world.

Elizabeth Banks and Sigourney Weaver appear in *Call Jane* by Phyllis Nagy, an official selection of the Premieres section at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Wilson Webb.

Led by the acting performances of Elizabeth Banks and Sigourney Weaver, along with a full roster of acting talent, Call Jane is a captivating look at women’s healthcare in 1968 Chicago and the actions of a small group looking to make change. When Joy, played by Elizabeth Banks, experiences a life-threatening complication in her pregnancy, she is forced to make the difficult decision to save herself or her unborn child. When an emergency termination seems to be the only option, a board of hospital doctors hold a hearing and vote that the baby should be born regardless of the risk to the mother. Jane is shocked that her opinion and her life is being ignored for the sake of her pregnancy and begins to search of alternatives on her own. Along the way, she finds a poster with instructions for women in her position to ‘Call Jane’ and her life is forever changed.

Elizabeth Banks and Cory Michael Smith appear in <i>Call Jane</i> by Phyllis Nagy, an official selection of the Premieres section at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Wilson Webb.

From being a patient to volunteering to becoming a key part of the Call Jane group, Joy uses her second lease on life to help others in the same circumstances and develops to find a new purpose. She offers support to other women and then grows the organization so that it can benefit women of all economic and racial backgrounds. The Janes establishes itself as a hub of help and education for all women who need it.

The power in the story is the connection to the current world we live in. With women’s healthcare accessibility shifting year after year, Call Jane touches on themes and topics that are still discussed today. Historically, The Jane Collective assisted in around 11,000 safe illegal abortions and after the raid of the hub, charges against the group were dropped following the Roe v Wade decision. The Jane Collective was promoted by word of mouth secretly and provided a network of women to support one another.

Phyllis Nagy, director of *Call Jane*, an official selection of the Premieres section at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images.

The actors as well as the crew of Call Jane are full of talented women sharing this story. Director Phyllis Nagy and Cinematographer Greta Zozula, in particular, have created an engaging film with stunning visuals and captivating storytelling. From the attention to detail in creating the world of the 1960’s to the beautiful emotion-driven cinematography, the team behind the camera has triumphed in the production of this film.

It is an important story to tell and important to the world of women in media.

For more info, check out the links below!

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7461272/

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0619507/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nt57r0iurfs

https://www.npr.org/2022/01/28/1075836338/sundance-festival-2022-roe-vs-wade-the-janes-abortion