www.unplannedfilm.com A scene from the controversial anti-abortion film "Unplanned" is shown. A screening of the film will take place at the Monarch Theatre in September, hosted by Holy Family Parish, the Catholic WomenÕs League and Knights of Columbus.
jappel@medicinehatnews.com@MHNJeremyAppel
A controversial anti-abortion movie is coming to Medicine Hat in September.
“Unplanned” will be playing at the Monarch Theatre on September 23 and 24, at a screening co-hosted by Holy Family Parish, the Catholic Women’s League and Knights of Columbus.
The movie – which is billed as “the inspiring story of one woman’s journey of transformation” – is based on the memoirs of Abby Johnson, a former Planned Parenthood employee turned anti-abortion activist.
Monarch manager Robin Anton told the News that Holy Family Parish initially approached the theatre about making the movie one of its weekly features, but the theatre felt it was inappropriate, given the film’s contentious subject matter.
“We’re not trying to get involved in anything that’s political, religious or controversial. We’re just here for fun and entertainment,” Anton said.
Since the screening is a private rental, it’s up to organizers to determine whether it will be open to the public or just congregants.
“I’m not sure what their plans are – if it’s open to the public or invite-only,” said Anton. “That’s totally up to them … They pay our rental fee and we show the movie for them.”
Anton said he isn’t sure whether the event will attract protests.
“I don’t know what they’re doing as far as letting people know about this movie, other than people in their parish. I’m assuming those people (from the parish) won’t come and protest, but I don’t know what they’re doing as far as advertising goes,” he said.
There is a Facebook event for the screening hosted by a group called “Christian Events Medicine Hat,” with scant details other than admission being a “free will offering.”
In a news release, the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada called the movie “a dangerous piece of anti-abortion propaganda,” which promotes “an absolutist and extreme case against abortion that has nothing to do with reality.”
ARCC also expressed concern that the film could encourage acts of violence against abortion providers.
The Movie Mill theatre in Lethbridge is scheduled to host the film on July 12 as part of a Canada-wide release, but its management has reportedly had second thoughts due to a public backlash from pro-choice advocates.
Theatre president Leonard Binning told the Huffington Post in mid-June that he had “no idea the heated controversy that would arise once the cat was out of the bag that we would make a screen available.”
Rotten Tomatoes, an online movie review aggregator, describes the movie as, “A dramatic approach to a hot-button topic whose agenda is immediately clear, (which) will only reinforce the feelings of viewers on either side of the issue.”
A representative of Holy Family Parish couldn’t be reached for comment by press time.
