Documentary Filmmaker Immerses Himself in Birth Clinic for a Year to Craft Abortion-Themed Movie in Georgia
In the rugged foothills of Georgia, Dea Kulumbegashvili's childhood was a stark contrast to her peers'. Many of them were forced into early marriages, suffered domestic abuse, and struggled with education and careers. Kulumbegashvili managed to break free, thanks to her father's staunch support and emphasis on her education. This personal history inspired her to create the film, 'April', a compelling drama set in the same heartland.
'April' revolves around a woman, performing clandestine home abortions in the region as a free service, in addition to her formal job at a local hospital. Her patients, often victims of rape, can't afford the procedure elsewhere. Filming the movie was a secretive endeavor, taking place at a time when abortion restrictions were tightening in Georgia. Scenes feature the stark contrast between the women's struggles and the idyllic landscapes of Georgia, with its poppy fields and cherry groves dwarfed by the Caucasus Mountains.
With growing access to abortions worldwide, there are still a few regions where this right has been rolled back, such as El Salvador, Nicaragua, Poland, and the United States, where restrictions were tightened in 2022. Kulumbegashvili sat down with Leila Fadel to discuss the film's inspiration.
Highlights of the Interview:
Leila Fadel: Why did you create a film about a doctor risking everything to give abortions in rural Georgia?
Dea Kulumbegashvili: Growing up in this very region, I was fortunate to be in a family that prioritized education, my future, and personal choice for me. Sadly, not all my classmates could say the same. Abortion access in rural Georgia is limited, making it an urgent issue.
Fadel: So, is this a film about women and their choices?
Kulumbegashvili: In a way, yes. Women, like the character repeatedly raped in the film, may want to keep their child despite the rape. However, sometimes they don't even have a choice because of societal pressure and stigma surrounding rape and motherhood.
Fadel: Your film was shot secretly, as abortion is not really talked about in Georgia, right?
Kulumbegashvili: Yes, there is a cultural stigma that makes abortion and rape a taboo topic. Even though access to abortion is officially legal up to 12 weeks, it's practically impossible to find the necessary medication in pharmacies unless it's an emergency. Most hospitals refuse to perform abortions.
Fadel: So it's not illegal but challenging to obtain an abortion in rural regions.
Kulumbegashvili: In a way, yes. There's a grey area because, officially, abortions are legal. However, it's nearly impossible to perform abortions in rural regions, outside of the major cities.
Fadel: You spent a year filming in a birthing clinic. Why did you invest so much time there?
Kulumbegashvili: As a first-time mother, I felt the need to capture the true essence of childbirth and medicine. Embedding in the clinic allowed us to capture accurate depictions of natural births and C-sections for the film.
Fadel: Did you face any challenges making the film in Georgia?
Kulumbegashvili: Yes, the film hasn't been screened in Georgia, as the government ignores its existence. Women's rights and violence against women are sensitive issues that aren't openly discussed, and the government is accused of promoting violence by allowing it to go largely unpunished.
Fadel: Who will be able to see the moving portrayal of women in rural Georgia?
Kulumbegashvili: Anyone outside of Georgia can see the film. Unfortunately, it remains hidden in its home country.
Fadel: With the resistance to the film in Georgia, will you be able to create another film in Georgia anytime soon?
Kulumbegashvili: Most likely not, as making 'April' was done in secrecy. Creating another film discussing sensitive issues would likely be impossible.
Fadel: What do you hope audiences take away from 'April'?
Kulumbegashvili: I aim to bring global attention to the struggles faced by women in regions where access to basic rights like abortion is limited. I hope people appreciate the rights they have and recognize the need for continued advocacy for women's rights worldwide.
Fadel: 'April' is indeed a difficult watch, filled with brutality and injustice. Are there any healing moments in the film?
Kulumbegashvili: Yes, there are instances of empathy, care, and possibly hope within the darkness. The film aims to be an honest portrayal of the experiences of these women, their pain, but also their resilience.
- Dea Kulumbegashvili's childhood was markedly different from her peers in rural Georgia, with some being forced into early marriages, experiencing domestic abuse, and facing difficulties in education and careers.
- Kulumbegashvili's film, 'April', revolves around a woman performing clandestine home abortions in rural Georgia, a service she offers for free to women who can't afford the procedure elsewhere.
- The film, set in the heartland of Georgia, highlights the stark contrast between the women's struggles and the idyllic landscapes of the region, filled with poppy fields, cherry groves, and the towering Caucasus Mountains.
- Abortion restrictions are tightening in Georgia, which made filming 'April' a secretive endeavor.
- In addition to her formal job at a local hospital, the central character of 'April' performs clandestine home abortions for women who are victims of rape.
- Kulumbegashvili sat down with Leila Fadel to discuss the film's inspiration, focusing on the limited access to abortions in rural Georgia and the urgency of the issue.
- The interview highlighted the fact that 'April' is a film about women and their choices, shedding light on societal pressures and stigma surrounding rape and motherhood.
- There is a cultural stigma in Georgia that makes abortion and rape a taboo topic, despite the fact that access to abortion is officially legal up to 12 weeks.
- In rural regions of Georgia, it is nearly impossible to find the necessary medication for abortions and most hospitals refuse to perform them.
- During filming 'April', Kulumbegashvili spent a year embedded in a birthing clinic to capture accurate depictions of natural births and C-sections for the film.
- The government of Georgia has chosen to ignore the existence of 'April', as women's rights and violence against women are sensitive issues that aren't openly discussed in the country.
- Kulumbegashvili hopes that audiences will take away from 'April' a greater understanding of the struggles faced by women in regions where access to basic rights like abortion is limited, and a renewed commitment to advocating for women's rights worldwide.
- 'April' offers moments of empathy, care, and possibly hope amidst the darkness, aiming to portray an honest depiction of the experiences of these women, their pain, but also their resilience.
