The Life and Times of Henry Morgentaler series
- Series
- 1994-2004
Part of Paperny Films fonds
Directed by Audrey Mehler, The Life and Times of Henry Morgentaler (1999) is a biography of Holocaust survivor, social activist and abortionist Dr. Henry Morgentaler. Born in Poland, Morgentaler immigrated to Canada in 1950 and studied medicine. From 1967 to the present, he has been a pro-choice abortion activist and established clinics for women throughout the country. Although he spent time incarcerated for his work, he continued his crusade. He played a prominent role in influencing the Supreme Court of Canada's 1988 decision to strike down Canada's abortion law, making abortion legal. He was the first president of the Humanist Association of Canada from 1968 to 1999 and remained the organization's honorary president. The sixty-minute documentary follows Morgentaler and his son Bamie back to Poland to places of significance in his early life. It includes archival footage and interviews with close supporters, including Gertie Katz, writer/activist June Callwood, and political commentator Judy Rebick, counterbalanced with the views of pro-lifer advocates like Jim Hughes, president of Campaign Life. Also included in the documentary is a visit to Bordeaux Jail in Montreal, where Morgentaler was incarcerated for 1tenmonths in 1975. Audrey Mehler received "The Bronze Plaque" for The Life and Times of Henry Morgentaler at the 48th Annual Columbus International Film and Video Festival in 2000.
Series consists of a digital master tape, a set of video and audio elements and textual material relating to the development of the production.