Agenda UV

The López Piñero Institute for the History of Medicine and Science (mixed centre of the Spanish Research Council (CSIC) and the University of Valencia), with headquarters in the Cerveró Palace, and the Cinema Club of the UVEG present the film series ‘Aborto: un derecho cuestionado’ (Abortion: a challenged right), coinciding with the protest activities of the University “4th Week for Equality” and “March for Equality”. The film series coordinated by the López Piñero Institute and the Cinema Club of the University, will take place during March, starting next Tuesday 5 with the screening of the film Story of Women (Une affaire de femmes, Claude Chabrol, France, 1988). On Thursday 14 March could be watched the film Decalogue 2, Thou shalt not take the name of God in vain (Dekalog dwa, Krzysztof Kieslowski, Poland, 1989). The following week, Thursday 21 March, the screening of Citizen Ruth (Alexander Payne, EEUU, 1996) will take place. And for closing the film series, Tuesday 26 the film Lake of Fire (Tony Kaye, EEUU, 2006) will be screened.

The screening, which will take place on the indicated Tuesdays and Thursdays at 18:00 in the conference room of the Cerveró Palace, will be screened in original version, in this case subtitled in Spanish. Each session will have a previous presentation by the Cinema Club of the University and a scientific expert on the issue. Likewise, after the screening of the film, there will be open a discussion in which the audience can participate. The film series will deal with the social, political and ethical debate on abortion that has been raised throughout history and currently. Are pregnant women the only ones responsible in the decision of the termination of their pregnancy? Does this decision concern the whole society? Is it an ideological dispute or on the contrary arises as a scientific discussion? Also, will be analysed the public health problem which supposes illegal or legal abortions, in those countries in where sanitary conditions are not adequate.

The first screening, Une affaire de femmes, is set on the World War II (1939-1945). In that moment life in the occupied France was very difficult. Marie Latour, a married woman, decides to help a neighbour to terminate and unwanted pregnancy. Little by little other pregnant women started to require her services, because they had been raped or because their husbands are on the front. Meanwhile, Marie’s husband, who remains at home because of a war injury, observes surprised how the financial economy of the family improves.

The second screening on Thursday 14 March, presents the film Decalogue 2. Thou shalt not take the name of God in vain. The second of ten medium-length films made for television by the director Kzysztof Kieslowsky and the screenwriter Krzysztow Pieseiewicz, generically titled Decalogue. Each one is inspired on the Ten Commandments. The film tells us the story of Dorota, a pregnant woman, whose dying husband Andrzjez is in the hospital.

The following Thursday, 21 March, the film Citizen Ruth will be screened. The film tells the story of Ruth Stoops (Laura Dern), an indigent drug addict, whose existence doesn’t seem to matter to anyone. But, suddenly an unexpected situation turns her into a beloved woman by both liberal and conservatives.

Finally, on Tuesday 26 March, the film series will close with the film Lake of Fire, a documentary that examines abortion from two views totally opposed, written and directed by Tony Kaye, the director of the controversial and acclaimed film American History X.