1972. An apartment on Chicago’s South Side. Seven women, part of a secret network, are arrested in a police raid. Their goal: provide women with safe and affordable abortions. Their name: The Janes. Using terrific archival footage and illuminating interviews, directors Tia Lessin and Emma Pildes craft a moving — and thrilling — documentary that celebrates these brave women.
The Janes — each member went only by “Jane” — wanted to save lives. In Chicago’s Cook County Hospital, women were dying every week due to botched abortions. This diverse group of women, working clandestinely in the days before Roe v. Wade, hid their identity and used blindfolds and safe houses to keep their work secret and provide necessary abortions. Fighting the law, the church, and even the Mafia, the Janes’ bravery knew no bounds. “These women were outlaws. They were also heroes, and it's high time more people recognized them as such. The Janes is a great start.” –David Fear, Rolling Stone
Directors Biography
Tia Lessin is one of the world’s most acclaimed producers and directors of documentaries. She has produced Oscar® and Palme d’Or-winning films and has been nominated for an Academy Award® for her documentary Trouble the Water (2008). She has also directed the documentaries Behind the Labels (2001) and Citizen Koch (2013).
Emma Pildes has produced numerous Emmy®-nominated documentaries for HBO, which have screened at the Sundance Film Festival, the Cannes Film Festival and the New York Film Festival. The Janes (2022) is her directing debut.