An extremely important movie opened in limited theaters this week. The movie is Unplanned, a powerful pro-life film depicting the true story of Abby Johnson, a former Planned Parenthood director turned national pro-life advocate and author. The movie also carries a message of hope, conversion, and redemption for anyone in need of God's grace and mercy. "What Abby saw changed everything." Visit www.unplannedfilm.com/ for general info about the movie and links to local theaters and show times. Some sneak previews were shown earlier this week but it officially opens on today, March 29, and how long it stays in theaters is dependent on ticket sales.
Some generous donors have paid for as many as 3000 tickets so that folks can view the movie for free. The web-site is being updated as theaters are added, so be sure to check back for additional locations and times as additional showings are added when free tickets will be made available. All you have to do is register on-line for the showing of your choice at www.unplannedstl.com/. Note that as 7:30 am on Fri March 29,several showings are already sold out but some showings for today are still available. So check the web-site as soon as you can to get tickets and go back to the web-site to watch for updates as additional theaters are added.
This could be a game changer. Everyone needs to see it - regardless of their views on this topic. Please see this movie and invite fellow parishioners, family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, etc, to see it. Ticket sales will dictate how long it is kept at theaters and whether it is spread to even more theaters.
Also, it does come with an "R" rating and below is an open letter from Abby Johnson regarding the MPAA's reason for the rating and the content of the movie.
Dear Parents,
I wanted to take a few minutes before my movie, Unplanned, comes out in theaters to talk to you. Mom-to-mom. Parent- to- parent. As you know, the movie received an R rating from the MPAA, and I imagine that may make you nervous about allowing your children to see it. Setting aside that, it feels a little weird to have a movie made about my life, and even weirder to be told that my life is “rated R.” I want to tell you, as a mother, what you can expect from the film: The movie does not have profanity. The Lord’s Name is not taken in vain or disrespected. There is no nudity, no immodesty, and certainly no sex or “suggestive” moments. None.
So why the R rating? For two scenes. Two scenes that the movie team was determined to re-create accurately, at my insistence, because they are important for people to see. The first is a CGI (Computer-Generated Imagery) recreation of what I saw on the ultrasound screen when I assisted in the abortion procedure that convinced me of the humanity of the unborn. You will see what I saw: a baby on an ultrasound screen in black and white 2D. You will see the abortion instrument, which looks like a big straw in real life and like a dark line on the ultrasound, introduced onto the screen. You will see the baby struggle against it. You will see the baby first slowly, then quickly disappear into the instrument as it does what it is designed to do. It is important for you to know that this was a CGI recreation and NOT footage from a real abortion. But it sure looks like what I saw. I think this scene is so important for teenagers and older children to see because it tells the truth about what our culture keeps trying to insist is a “right” and a “freedom.” No one will be able to see this scene and then say they “don’t know” the truth about abortion.
The second scene that was cited as a reason for the R rating is a scene that re-creates my awful experience with the abortion pill. Ashley, the actress who plays me, did a fantastic job capturing both my physical pain and my fear. I won’t lie to you; that scene shows some blood. In real life I hemorrhaged so badly I thought I was going to die. The movie captures that without being gratuitous or gory. I think the producers walked that line well.
The rest of the film is not as intense as those two scenes. It will make you laugh, make you cringe, gasp, cry, and cheer- all the things a good movie should. The difference with Unplanned is that it has the potential to change and save lives in the process.
So, should you take your kids to see this movie? I can’t decide for you, but I will tell you that my twelve-year old daughter will see it. I can tell you my friends who have pre-screened the film plan on bringing their 10, 11, and 12-year olds along with their teenagers to see it, and I hope you will do the same. Our children are of the generation who is being lost to abortion. This is personal for them too. They are likely to hear and see more graphic content in most school health classes! I guess what I’m trying to say is, this movie is authentic. Yes, it’s a movie about abortion, but even more so, it’s a movie about the truth of forgiveness, repentance, and redemption, because that is what the story of my life, is really about.
See you at the movies.
Sincerely,
Abby Johnson
Webmaster's note:
Click on the Button to read the Op-Ed by Abby Johnson on the movie on the Fox News Channel Website called Abby Johnson: ‘Unplanned’ is my story and you can't unsee it and to see Ashley Bratcher, who stars as Planned Parenthood clinic director turned pro-life activist Abby Johnson in the movie as she reacts to the movie getting an unexpected R Rating.
