As a gamer with a keen interest in politics and social issues, I found the Telluride Film Festival to be an eye-opening experience this year. The premieres of politically charged films like Zurawski v Texas, The Apprentice, Carville: Winning Is Everything, Stupid!, and Separated, shed light on the state of our nation in a way that is both heartbreaking and enraging.
Hillary Clinton urged the crowd at the Telluride, Colorado film festival, saying, “Let’s return to a period where the government doesn’t dictate your personal decisions for your family. That’s more like the plot of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale.'”
Hillary Clinton attended Telluride over the weekend for the debut of the documentary “Zurawski v Texas“, which she produced. This film focuses on a group of women who took legal action against the state of Texas in 2023, as they were prevented from receiving abortions when their health was in danger. Directed by Maisie Crow and Abbie Perrault, the movie is currently seeking distribution. The emotionally charged screening at the Palm Theater, seating 650 people, was a sell-out.
Among the politically relevant films showcased, “Zurawski v Texas” stands out, along with Ali Abbasi’s “The Apprentice”, featuring Sebastian Stan as a young Donald Trump, produced by Briarcliff Entertainment. Also featured is Matt Tyrnauer’s “Carville: Winning Is Everything, Stupid!”, centered around Democratic strategist James Carville, which was bought by CNN Films during the Telluride festival. Lastly, Errol Morris’s “Separated” delves into the Trump administration’s border family-separation policy and is currently searching for a buyer.
“Clinton emphasized that this movie carries significant weight in overcoming skepticism, denial, indifference, and cruelty that have impacted numerous women’s lives in our nation today. She made these remarks during a Q&A session following the screening of Zurawski v Texas, which I had the privilege to moderate. The film features three Texas plaintiffs – Amanda Zurawski, Samantha Casiano, and Austin Dennard – who were present at the premiere along with the filmmakers. Also in attendance were Molly Duane, a senior staff attorney at the Center for Reproductive Rights, and Chelsea Clinton.”
Through their jointly founded production company, HiddenLight (co-founded with Sam Branson), the Clintons have supported the case of Zurawski v Texas. Last year, HiddenLight received an Emmy award for In Her Hands, a documentary detailing the story of a female mayor in Afghanistan. Additionally, the company is currently backing a film focusing on investigations led by George and Amal Clooney’s foundation into Russian war crimes in Ukraine.
Chelsea stated during a Q&A session, “We combined all our thoughts, aspirations, aggravations, and anger to create HiddenLight with the aim of amplifying stories that are vital yet often overlooked due to their sensitive subject matter. In this moment when discomfort is necessary, we believe, we saw an opportunity in Maisie and Abbie’s film, so we asked ourselves, ‘What role can we play? How can we assist?’ Other producers involved in the project are Jennifer Lawrence’s Excellent Cadaver, Story Force Entertainment, and Bumble Inc.”
The Texas abortion ban the Zurawski case challenged was triggered by the 2022 Supreme Court decision Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health that overturned Roe v. Wade. Asked whether she was surprised by the Dobbs decision, the former secretary of state said, “No, I was not. I had watched in a very concerned way, the steady, relentless attack on women’s reproductive health, and in particular on Roe v. Wade for years, and often said that if we’re not careful, there will be a Supreme Court that is literally designed to reverse Roe v. Wade… It was terribly distressing and disappointing but not surprising.”
The discussion encompassed topics ranging from filmmaking, healthcare, and politics following Roe, with the parties involved revealing intimate aspects of their lives, much like they did in a Texas courtroom.
At first, Casiano preferred to remain anonymous. However, when she gave birth to her daughter, Halo, who lived for only four hours, she felt compelled to reveal her identity. This was because she wanted to make others aware of the harsh reality that many women face, as her baby had been diagnosed with anencephaly and would not survive. Unfortunately, lacking the means to travel out of Texas for an abortion, she carried the pregnancy to term. From then on, Casiano felt it was crucial to share her experience and let people know about this ongoing situation.
In the movie, it’s Duane, the lawyer handling the case, who becomes a central figure. She’s seen getting ready for court and taking care of her young children at home. Duane stated that part of the lawsuit was about sharing these stories with as many people as possible. Her reasoning was that she wanted to make it clear that [these women] were not invisible or ignored by society.
In the upcoming November election, ten states such as Colorado will feature measures related to abortion on their ballots. Clinton expressed her hope that voters would show they disapprove of the events depicted in the movie by casting votes against those measures.
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2024-09-02 01:54