Review of Lake of Fire (2006) by Movie M — 07 Dec 2011
Pro-life or pro-choice? That is the question that has been responsible for arguably the most heated debate our current American culture has ever seen. Filmmaker Tony Kaye (American History X) with his aptitude for depicting controversial issues, doesn't waste time nor pulls any punches while beating the crap out of this one.
His beautifully done documentary dives deep into the war over abortion; something that is ironically as far from "beautiful" as it gets. He takes an extremely analytical back seat perspective while examining everything that has gone into the feud.
In particular, the religiously grounded fundamentalists who oppose it, the open-minded supporters who advocate it, and the many women out there who are struggling to keep their right of free-choice. Not just a film formed of interviews with extreme opinions either as it uses a fair amount of explicit footage too ranging from the murder scenes of abortion doctors to actual "in procedure" images that really nail the messages in.
Outside of the grisly flashes from the operations though, the film struggles to remain neutral as it takes on a majorly pro-choice stance. But it's not something I hold the director or his film really accountable for as the pro-life movement along with their church and government affiliates, do a damn fine job making themselves look like a gaggle of religious nut jobs.
"Lake of Fire's" overall outlook is just though and brought home with the way they punctuate the film; by simply following an everyday woman through her own procedure from when she heads to her appointment to when she leaves the clinic.
She is a basic but real symbol who speaks loads for the concept that while everybody is getting so riled up over the idea of it all, what is being forgotten are the actual people going through it. Documentaries are meant to educate while entertain, and by that criteria, I can't remember the last time I was as thought-provoked and wowed in one setting as this.
. . GRADE: A+.
This review of Lake of Fire (2006) was written by Movie M on 07 Dec 2011.
Lake of Fire has generally received very positive reviews.
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