"Over the course of shooting the film he
opened up to me in ways I had never thought possible.
He was nearly in tears as he described his need to redeem
his life, to make his survival of the Nazi death camps count
for something in this world," describes director/producer
Audrey Mehler, who gained unprecedented access to the controversial
Morgentaler.
The documentary follows Morgentaler and his son back to Poland
to places he has not seen in over 55 years including, the
cramped poverty-stricken Lodz ghetto, where Morgentaler was
born; the prison where his activist father was executed; and
Auschwitz concentration camp, where he and his brother were
separated from their mother who they would never see again.
Interviews with close supporters include writer/activist
June Callwood and political commentator Judy Rebick, counterbalanced
with the views of pro-lifers like Jim Hughes, president of
Campaign Life - "I pray for him everyday." Powerful
archival footage is intercut with the retelling of Morgentaler's
abortion campaign; the site of his first abortion clinic in
suburban Montreal; and a visit to Bordeaux Jail in Montreal,
where he was incarcerated for 10 months at the age of 52.
"I have a tremendous sense of satisfaction. If I
had to die tomorrow I would say that I have accomplished something
with my life. I've used my knowledge, my convictions, my heart,
my intelligence to do something positive with my life,"
states Morgentaler.
Original Air Date - November 16, 1999
Links
Dr.
Henry Morgentaler: Fighting Canada's Abortion Laws (CBC Archives)
(Note: CBC does not endorse the content of external
sites)
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