NFB Collection
Democracy on Trial: The Morgentaler Affair
198458 min 42 secFilm: Documentary
Direction: Paul Cowan
Production: Adam SymanskyJefferson LewisPaul CowanRobert VerrallAndy Thomson
Script: Jefferson Lewis
A concise and captivating review of the legal battle waged by Dr. Henry Morgentaler in Québec and federal courts between 1970 and 1976. Through a combination of newsreel footage, interviews, and dramatic re-enactments (in which Dr. Morgentaler and his lawyer play themselves), this docudrama unravels the complexities of the case that began as a challenge to Canada's abortion law and turned into a precedent-setting civil rights case. The film also offers insight into the physician's motivation for defying the law and reveals how our judicial system responded to this emotionally charged challenge of the controversial abortion law.
Availability
Other versions
Subject categories
- Sexuality and Reproduction > Abortion
- Law and Crime > AbortionLawsLegal System, Personnel and ProceedingsPortraits
- Women > AbortionSexuality and Reproduction
- Health and Medicine > PortraitsSexuality and Reproduction
- Social Studies > Canadian Politics and Government
- History and Citizenship Education > Civil Rights and Freedoms
- Civics/Citizenship > Human Rights
Credits
- director
- Paul Cowan
- editing
- Paul Cowan
- producer
- Adam Symansky
- Jefferson Lewis
- Paul Cowan
- executive producer
- Robert Verrall
- Andy Thomson
- script
- Jefferson Lewis
- cinematography
- Paul Cowan
- Mike Mahoney
- sound
- Jacques Drouin
- sound editing
- Bernard Bordeleau
- sound mixing
- Jean-Pierre Joutel
- Adrian Croll
- narrator
- William Hunt
- music
- Alex Pauk
- Alexina Louie
- cast
- Gabriel Gascon
- Henry Morgentaler
- Mike Morgentaler
- Michael Rudder
- Lisa Schwartz
- Claude-Armand Sheppard
- Jacques Thisdale
- Gwen Tolbart
Awards
- Futura Berlin Award - Category: Documentary Film - with a cash prize of 10,000DMPrix Futura