ABOUT THE PROJECT

LOGLINE
A dynamic chronicle of Catholic, feminist, abortion advocate Frances Kissling’s fearless, controversial, lifelong battle for thoughtful dialogue on abortion, the most contentious issue of our time—an urgent call for a new path forward.

SYNOPSIS
The Reproductive Rights Movement in America since the 1970s has been shaped by hard-won victories, devastating setbacks, and rapidly shifting social norms. Amid decades of political and moral conflict, Frances Kissling emerged as one of the movement’s most distinctive voices—meeting controversy with empathy, wit, and intellect. Her work, forged in response to the evolution of women’s rights and in direct challenge to the official position of the Catholic Church, reflects a lifelong commitment to honest, humane dialogue across ideological divides.

At a moment when public discourse has grown increasingly polarized, Kissling’s willingness to engage thoughtfully with those who disagree with her feels both rare and necessary. In the wake of the fall of Roe v. Wade—and the profound consequences for women’s autonomy, health, and lives—we need new ways of speaking about abortion, morality, and reproductive freedom. Kissling offers exactly that—a bold and nuanced perspective that moves beyond the stale pro-choice/pro-life binary, confronting the emotional and ethical complexity that so many people genuinely feel around this issue.

By challenging long-held assumptions about why women make the decision to have an abortion—and by refusing simplistic and inflammatory rhetoric that has dominated the debate for decades—Kissling opens the door to a more honest and compassionate national conversation.

For a public exhausted by ideological warfare and the worsening of political discourse, Frances Kissling is not just relevant. She is essential.

PROJECT TYPE Documentary Feature

DIRECTOR Sharon Levy
PRODUCER Sharon Levy
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER Therra Jaramillo
IMPACT PRODUCER Sophie Hoath

ID: 793