Podchaser Logo
Home
Five Films to Stir Your Pro-Life Heart

Five Films to Stir Your Pro-Life Heart

Released Wednesday, 26th June 2024
Good episode? Give it some love!
Five Films to Stir Your Pro-Life Heart

Five Films to Stir Your Pro-Life Heart

Five Films to Stir Your Pro-Life Heart

Five Films to Stir Your Pro-Life Heart

Wednesday, 26th June 2024
Good episode? Give it some love!
Rate Episode

Episode Transcript

Transcripts are displayed as originally observed. Some content, including advertisements may have changed.

Use Ctrl + F to search

0:00

Music.

0:08

To the official podcast of the Love Times Two Project. Change the culture and

0:12

the politics will follow. Hey, welcome back to the podcast. I want to make sure that you stay tuned to

0:20

the very end of this podcast because I've got a special offer you're not going to want to miss.

0:24

Hey, the last time we got together, I shared with you five books to really get

0:28

you thinking about life issues. And those books were Embryo, The Unaborted Socrates, Modern Fascism,

0:34

Whatever Happened to the Human Race? And Abortion Questions and Answers. Go back and listen to that episode if you

0:41

didn't get a chance to hear it. I think you'll enjoy that episode and maybe give you some ideas on some books

0:48

for you to read this summer, maybe at the beach or poolside or whatever.

0:51

But it just sort of follows that it may be helpful to share with you a list

0:55

of five pro-life films that may be helpful to get you thinking at a deeper level as well.

1:00

Especially here in the middle of summer where if

1:03

you're like most folks it's probably hotter than usual where you

1:06

are and it's just a good idea to hang out indoors maybe and

1:10

get caught up on some films that you've never seen or maybe that you have seen

1:14

and it's just time to go back and view that film again now keep in mind this

1:18

is my list of five recommendations and just like the book recommendations they're

1:23

in no particular order but they are well worth your time to watch and to share.

1:28

So here we go, five pro-life films that will really get you thinking.

1:33

First up, Eclipse of Reason. Okay, I get it that this one right out of the shoot is going to date me,

1:38

but this is a very powerful film that deserves a strong mention on this list.

1:43

Here's the background of the film. Way back in 1984, a former abortion doctor,

1:48

Bernard Nathanson, produced a film called The Silent Scream.

1:52

Now, that's also a film you should check out, although it's not part of this

1:55

list of five, simply because I wanted to keep the list to five.

1:58

But Silent Scream took the world by storm by showing the ultrasound image of

2:03

an unborn baby during an actual abortion.

2:06

And then you see the baby's mouth visibly opening as the abortion begins.

2:10

Hence the name Silent Scream. Now, the film caught all kinds of flack,

2:14

as you might imagine, with many critics arguing that it was reliant upon ultrasound

2:19

imaging that is grainy and it means nothing and et cetera, et cetera.

2:23

So Nathanson followed it up in 1987 with Eclipse of Reason.

2:27

Now, this time, Nathanson described an abortion step by step as viewed through

2:32

a fetus scope inserted into the uterus.

2:35

Painfully, viewers watch as the unborn baby is dismembered by what's termed a D&E abortion.

2:41

Once more, critics were outraged, as again, you might imagine,

2:45

with heavy hitters such as a professor of OBGYN at Mount Sinai Medical Center

2:49

who described the film as factually misleading and unfair.

2:54

John Hobbins of the Yale School of Medicine called the film's use of special

2:58

effects deceptive and a form of technical flim-flam. What do you think?

3:03

Well, if you haven't watched it, check out Eclipse of Reason.

3:06

You can probably find it on YouTube. I think it's there, but I'm sure you can

3:10

find it somewhere else. Watch Eclipse of Reason.

3:12

Think deeply on what is presented.

3:15

Just a warning, it may be life-changing for you. So next up is Bella.

3:20

Now, this 2006 film is the first straightforward pro-life film to go mainstream.

3:25

Now, if I'm wrong on that, contact me and let me know if there's something I'm overlooking.

3:29

From my recollection, Bella is the first straightforward pro-life film that

3:33

really went mainstream. And at the time. It also took the nation by storm. There are a lot of twists and turns in Bella,

3:40

so I don't want to give the whole plot away.

3:43

But it really evolves around a former soccer player who takes a special interest

3:48

in a waitress fired from her job who is considering an abortion.

3:52

What unfolds in Bella is a beautiful and gentle story about life.

3:57

Rotten Tomatoes panned the film, noting, critics labeled Bella as a simplistic

4:02

and mostly pedestrian but positive word of mouth, gave this tiny,

4:06

indie, surprising theatrical legs.

4:08

That's a kind of way of saying Rotten Tomatoes scratched their head and said,

4:12

we don't understand why this film took off like it did.

4:15

A New York Times critic was much more acidic, who wrote, quote,

4:19

if Bella is a mediocre cup of mush,

4:21

the response to it suggests how desperate some people are for an urban fairy

4:26

tale with a happy ending, no matter how ludicrous, end quote.

4:31

Wow, well, that's how critics responded to this heartwarming film,

4:34

simply because it's pro-life. Pretty ridiculous, right?

4:37

I mean, Bella took the People's Choice Award at the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival.

4:42

It won the Heartland Film Festival's Grand Prize Award winner for Best Dramatic

4:46

Feature and the Crystal Hearts Award for its Writer, Director, Producer.

4:52

Bella's filmmakers received the Smithsonian Institution's Legacy Award for the

4:58

film's positive contribution to Latino art and culture.

5:01

Hey, not bad for a cup of mush. Gosh, a New York Times.

5:05

Anyways, next up is one that may surprise you. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.

5:10

Hey, I get it. This isn't a direct abortion related film, but we really have

5:15

to expand our thinking when we try to get our heads around any discussion about

5:20

the value of every human life,

5:23

because that isn't limited to only unborn children.

5:26

God's grand design for each human life is so huge. And when inhumanity strikes out against it.

5:34

We all need to think deeper. This film has one massive plot twist that I'm not

5:40

going to even get close to giving away.

5:43

Just know that it is one of the most powerful and moving films that you will ever see.

5:48

And you will think deeply on man's inhumanity against man.

5:53

There's actually a lot of controversy about this film too, as again, might be expected.

5:58

Rotten Tomatoes scored it with a 64% approval rating. its awards that were handed

6:03

down to it as a film are really minimal, likely due to its controversial reception.

6:08

I just know that it's one of the few films that I've watched just one time,

6:13

and if you've seen it, you probably feel the same way too, and you know exactly why.

6:17

Hey, watch it, and you see what you think about the film.

6:20

Hey, next up, you can't have a list of pro-life films without including Unplanned,

6:25

the most powerful and well-received pro-life film of all time.

6:29

Unplanned tells the redeeming story of former abortion clinic worker Abby Johnson

6:35

and her exodus from the abortion industry.

6:37

No surprise, once again, the film was blasted by critics for its negative portrayal

6:42

of abortion and the abortion industry. And by the way, do you see a trend in

6:48

the criticism of these films? Yeah, it's pretty obvious. Yet unplans $21 million worldwide compared to only

6:55

a $6 million production budget.

6:58

Not bad for a film that critics blasted left and right. Right.

7:02

Criticism goes just beyond the pale.

7:05

I mean, a fellow with a nonpartisan American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists

7:10

who performs ultrasound guided abortions, but has not seen the film,

7:14

by the way. That's a key part of all this.

7:17

She hasn't seen the film, but she said that while an ultrasound of a 13 week

7:21

old fetus may show a visible head and body, the notion that it would be,

7:25

quote, fighting for its life, end quote, is misleading. leading.

7:29

She went on to explain that most abortions last three to ten minutes and are, quote, well tolerated.

7:36

I don't even know what to say about that. I mean, wow.

7:38

On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 10 out of 100.

7:44

That's pretty low. Based on seven critics indicating overwhelming dislike.

7:49

That's their term, quote, overwhelming dislike.

7:52

So there you go. Hey, one last note. A lot of the controversy surrounding this

7:56

film included the fact that it got an R rating from the Motion Picture Association

8:00

of America and the fact that many mainstream outlets refused advertisement for the film,

8:07

including Google, A&E Networks, Discovery.

8:10

Hallmark Channel, NBCUniversal.

8:12

Hey, check it out. See what you think about it.

8:15

And last but not least on the list, another film that may be surprising.

8:18

It's the Christmas classic, It's a Wonderful Life. That is right.

8:22

The film with George Bailey and Mr.

8:24

Potter and all the other great characters that we've come to know and love.

8:28

Have you ever stopped and considered the main thrust of this film?

8:32

I mean, I've seen this film just analyzed left and right, bows in different ways.

8:36

But really, the main thrust of the film is how the world would have been worse

8:39

off had George Bailey never been born.

8:42

When George utters that thought, Clarence, the angel, grants him that rare opportunity

8:46

to see what the world might have missed had there never been a George Bailey in Bedford Falls.

8:52

Because it really is a wonderful life. Think about that the next time that you're

8:56

sipping eggnog and watching It's a Wonderful Life.

8:59

Hey, that's it for this episode of the podcast. and now I have a really special deal for you.

9:03

As a very special thank you for all gifts of $19 or more this month to help

9:08

support the Love Times 2 project, I'll send you a DVD copy of Unplanned just

9:13

to show you our appreciation. You can make your gift at lovetimes2.org.

9:19

Now, Love Times 2 is L-O-V-E-X, the number 2, .org.

9:25

Make your gift today. Must be 18 or older. you can have your DVD copy of Unplanned

9:32

as a very special thank you gift.

9:34

I hope to hear from you very soon. Quantities are limited on the number of copies

9:38

of Unplanned available. So if you'd like to get one of these DVDs, make your gift today.

9:43

Would love to send one to you. Hey, thanks for listening in.

9:46

I hope that this episode inspires you to really check out these important films

9:50

and that these films will really stir up your thinking.

9:55

Hey, never forget, change the culture and the politics Thanks for listening

10:02

to the official podcast of the Love Times 2 Project.

10:05

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode.

10:08

And never forget, change the culture and the politics will follow.

10:10

Music.

10:17

Are you looking for the perfect speaker for your next event or conference?

10:21

Look no further than the new Love Times 2 Speakers Bureau. your go-to source

10:26

for great pro-life speakers. We have a roster of renowned experts who can inspire, educate,

10:32

and entertain your audience. Our speakers are ready to unleash their expertise and make your event a resounding success.

10:39

Scheduling a pro-life speaker has never been easier. Visit lovetimes2.org slash speakers.

10:46

Music.

Rate

Join Podchaser to...

  • Rate podcasts and episodes
  • Follow podcasts and creators
  • Create podcast and episode lists
  • & much more

Episode Tags

Do you host or manage this podcast?
Claim and edit this page to your liking.
,

Unlock more with Podchaser Pro

  • Audience Insights
  • Contact Information
  • Demographics
  • Charts
  • Sponsor History
  • and More!
Pro Features