THE STORY:
Marlise Muñoz was 33 years old and 14 weeks pregnant with her second child when she died. She suffered a pulmonary embolism and was pronounced brain-dead in a hospital in Fort Worth, TX. Marlise had previously told her family that she never wanted to be on life support, under any circumstances. And since a brain-dead patient is in fact legally dead, that should have been the end of this sad story. But the Muñoz family was forced to keep Marlise on mechanical support against their will because of a little known law that states “a person may not withdraw or withhold life-sustaining treatment… from a pregnant patient.”
What followed was a painful ordeal, with critical implications about bodily integrity, rights and liberty.
The media picked up the story and the public wildly debated what choice the family should make. But the bottom line was: the family didn’t have a choice. The case ignited polarizing opinions. One side argued that if anything could be done to save this fetus, it should. The other claimed that the State was imposing a ghoulish and cruel mandate on the family, using a dead woman’s body to incubate a fetus.
This film follows the Muñoz family’s journey from personal loss, to unwanted media attention, and finally towards activism as they fight to change this law.
The Muñoz’ personal story is the jumping-off point for a timely examination of a growing trend of laws that seek to control a pregnant woman’s body.
Even her dead body.
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ABOUT THE FILM:
Filmmaker Rebecca Haimowitz (MADE IN INDIA) has EXCLUSIVE ACCESS to the Muñoz family to share their story in a documentary film. I am honored by the trust they have put in me, and I am truly committed to creating a multi-layered film that shows the human story behind the headlines.
We are currently in Film Production. At this very moment, Lawmakers in Texas are planning to introduce a bill based on the Marlise Muñoz case that will make this law even stricter. The Muñoz family will travel to Austin to testify before their State Legislature to share their story and try to fight this law. This is a crucial chapter in our characters’ lives - and we need your support NOW so we can capture these events as they unfold.
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HOW YOUR CONTRIBUTION HELPS:
As some of you know, most funding for documentary films comes in after the bulk of the filming is complete. But our story is happening NOW, and we need your support now to make sure that we can jump on a plane to Texas and film this legislative battle as it happens.
We’re asking for $20,000 to support filming. Below is a breakdown of costs to highlight where your contribution goes.
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As you can see, our actual production budget is even HIGHER than our fundraising goal here, so we ask you to PLEASE be generous.
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WHY A DOCUMENTARY?:
THE PREGNANCY EXCLUSION uses evocative and artistic filmmaking to humanize a polarizing event - exploring the depths and complexities of a controversial subject through personal storytelling. This film presents an intimate portrait of a family in crisis; through their journey, we bring to light the personal toll of a growing political trend.
The Muñoz family’s personal tragedy is the springboard for a timely examination of these little-known laws. We truly believe that this is a critical issue with far-reaching impact for ALL OF US. Few people know that pregnancy exclusion laws affect 32 states and counting. Your support can help make a difference in our fight to assure that all people are granted the same rights when it comes to very personal end-of-life decisions.
(GRAPHIC BELOW SHOWS THE 32 STATES WITH SIMILAR OR IDENTICAL LAWS TO THE PREGNANCY EXCLUSION)
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ABOUT THE FILMMAKER:
Rebecca Haimowitz received her MFA in Filmmaking from Columbia University's Graduate School of the Arts, where she also worked as a Screenwriting Instructor. She is the Co-Director/Producer of the award-winning documentary MADE IN INDIA about outsourcing surrogate mothers to India, which aired on PBS in May 2012. The film premiered in May 2010 at the Hot Docs International Film Festival in Toronto, and WON “Best Documentary” at the Florida Film Festival, the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival and the Magnolia Film Festival. Rebecca is an Adjunct Professor at Rutgers University, where she teaches Introduction to Documentary Filmmaking. She is committed to creating documentary and narrative films that reveal the human side behind social and political issues.
I am fascinated by the ways women’s bodies become politicized, and how pregnant women lose autonomy. My previous award-winning film, MADE IN INDIA (2010), examined how reproductive technology was creating new opportunities for families, but also new ethical dilemmas regarding the commodification of women’s bodies – played out in a global economy. MADE IN INDIA steered clear of sensationalized or didactic storytelling, instead revealing the subject matter’s complexities in a nuanced, balanced and thought-provoking way. The success of that film makes me the ideal filmmaker to tell this story.
OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP:
If you can't make a financial contribution, you can still support the film! Please help get the word out about this campaign. Use the SHARE tools to spread the word - your voice can help make a difference!
