If These Walls Could Talk

If These Walls Could Talk
by Nancy Savoca

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• IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK is a powerful, intimate portrait of how times and freedoms have changed, It will shock you. It will surprise you. And no matter where you stand on the issue, it will force you to think again. A recently widowed nurse (Demi Moore) struggling to take control of her life in the early 50's. A mother of four (Sissy Spacek) overwhelmed by trying to raise a family and maintain a

Movie Reviews of If These Walls Could Talk

Movie Review: A movie story pertinent today
Summary: 5 Stars

EACH PERSON'S STORY IS DIFFERENT:
The story covers 3 women, who clearly have different reasons for not wanting to be pregnant. All three women would find it difficult or near impossible to give up a child to adoption as well. Only one was involved in a stable relationship. Also, these are clearly not people who consider abortion or pregnancy lightly. One clearly had strong feelings on the issue prior to becoming pregnant.

KEY HERE IS THE WOMAN'S RIGHT TO A CHOICE:
In the 1950's there was none. In the 1970s, information was still sparse. However, even 30 years later in the 1990's, there still is a divided line. It is clear this right is divided across religious or philosophical lines. What concerns me, it that it is predominantly religious and our rights really should be clear in that direction.

BOTH PRO-CHOICE AND PRO-LIFE SIDES WILL BE MOVED BY THIS MOVIE:
Without spouting my own beliefs (too much), I feel this movie shows the issues fairly. There are times when a pregnancy, is through no fault of the woman, truly unwanted. Birth control methods fail. It is not like the woman can just go on with their lives as normal, as can be seen in all of the episodes. This is a life altering situation for each woman, for any woman. Even if adoption were considered, there is still the 9 months and the uncertaintly as well as the stigma of giving up a child. We've all heard of adoption horror stories.
Also, the illusion of "support" after birth by the Right to life movement is a "temporary" solution for a long term commitment.

WHAT I FOUND TO BE INTERESTING AND DOES NOT SET RIGHT WITH ME, was some of the Right to Life protestor's tactics. This is also pertinent to this story as well. Right to life should mean just that right to life for all parties. Lets first start with those that are fully realized human beings. I cannot understand how these Right to life enthusiasts can consider the "rights" of an unborn child and consider harming others in the same breath. The logic escapes me. This is not fiction in this sense, it happened 50 miles from where I live. There is no justification if they truly believe in their philosophy. Otherwise they are merely posers trying to control other's lives with their religious dogma.

BASED ON THIS MOVIE AND MY OBSERVATIONS:
This is a religious issue and our country provides for a separation of church and state. Your right's end where mine begin...End of story.

Summary of If These Walls Could Talk

Three women, three time periods, one house: each finds herself in trouble and must face the overwhelming decision about what to do with the unwanted pregnancy. The first segment is the most powerful, featuring Demi Moore as a young, recently widowed nurse in 1952. With no one to turn to and limited financial means, her options are few. Catherine Keener costars as her harshly judgmental sister-in-law. The next piece occurs in 1974, as Sissy Spacek, a mother of four who is trying to earn a college degree, discovers she's pregnant with her fifth child. Her utterly modern feminist daughter encourages Spacek to get a newly legal abortion, but it's a complex decision. In the final segment, college student Anne Heche becomes pregnant by her married professor. Her best friend, played by Jada Pinkett, is resolutely against abortion and the two wrangle over right and wrong. As the young woman tries to learn about her options, she finds herself enmeshed in the pro-life demonstrations outside the abortion clinic. Cher, who directs this segment (the other two are directed by Nancy Savoca), costars as a doctor at the clinic.

While trying to be evenhanded and demonstrating the different choices different women make, the film does have a decidedly pro-choice leaning. Yet the power of the movie is undeniable and it raises significant questions on both sides of the abortion debate, making it an important film for women (and men) everywhere to watch and talk about. --Jenny Brown