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Noam Chomsky, Alan M. Dershowitz, Nat Hentoff, Peter Singer, Dallas Blanchard ... see more see more... , Norma McCorvey , Randall Terry , Frederick Clarkson , Bill Baird , Frances Kissling , Michael Griffin , Paul Hill

With Lake of Fire, American History X helmer and music-video director Tony Kaye climbs inside of the decades-old abortion debate for a 152-minute study of the pro-life and pro-choice positions. In the... read more read more... process, he uncovers not an objective black-and-white issue, but a myriad of circumstances and sub-issues of tremendous moral complexity and ambiguity. He then investigates the sub-philosophies and ideas that belie each side, with generous input and assistance from socialist Noam Chomsky, and via interviews with Christian theologians, and professors of bioethics, sociology, and philosophy. Kaye also gives substantial consideration to the violence directed by certain extremists at abortion doctors, nurses, and clinics. The director worked on the picture for well over 15 years, and it serves as a prime candidate for the definitive abortion documentary. However, be forewarned: Lake of Fire includes lengthy, graphic depictions of abortion procedures and their physical and emotional side-effects, and it is not for the squeamish or suitable for younger audiences. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

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90% liked it

2,829 ratings

Critics

93% liked it

54 critics

Unrated, 2 hr. 32 min.

Directed by: Tony Kaye

Release Date: October 3, 2007

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DVD Release Date: March 11, 2008

Stats: 347 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (347)

  • bottcorecords1
    February 27, 2009
    bottcorecords1
    An epic, nearly 3 hour documentary spanning over the course of 15 years about the highly controversial subject of abortion. It doesn't shy away from difficult-to-look-at images: it shows an actual abortion taking place as well as the remains of the aborted 5-month old fetus, it ... read moreshows the bodies of Doctors gunned down by fanatics, and it shows pictures of the bodies of women who tried to give themselves "coat hanger abortions". Let me get back to the abortion shown, it's graphic and pretty hard to take, and yet, anyone who's pro-choice needs to see this and then ask themselves if they still feel the same. It takes all denial out of the supporters mind, they can't pretend it's "just a mass of cells" anymore. So, the question is no longer, "is it a human life?" or "is it a baby?", but what are the consequences of this child being born how will society deal with it? The film points out the hypocrisy of conservatives who in one breath will condemn abortion but in the other vote against sex education, birth control and welfare programs (apparently they're only concerned with babies before they're born). Being against birth control is an especially telling sign showing that many who are pro-life are more importantly anti-sex. Of course the film also focuses on the fanatical who whip their followers into a frenzy, and the consequences of that frenzy when one of their followers is unstable, showing the murder of Dr. Gunn among others. Of course, Doctor killers and fire bombers are a fringe group, but it's amazing how far-reaching their influence can be (when they show pictures of republican presidents with those who would later kill, it's especially chilling). Abortion is never painted in a glamorous light, and it's certainly not enjoyable for a woman to go through one. It's something no woman goes into lightly. "Lake of Fire" doesn't settle any arguments, it makes them and lets the viewer decide.
  • fb20312798
    December 8, 2010
    fb20312798
    'Lake of Fire' is incredibly difficult to watch at moments, specifically the images of the abortion process or pictures of women who unsuccessfully tried to perform an abortion on themselves, but its one of the best documentaries I've ever seen. It shows the wide range of beliefs... read more pretty favorably ranging from sane to crazy and while it slightly leans in favor of the pro-choice movement, its still one of the most unbiased portrayals of the abortion issue that any filmmaker has dared to make. The most important thing that the film shows us is that Americans have a very hard time with rational debate and discussion regardless of their opinion or political affiliation.
  • wbgoose13
    December 11, 2007
    wbgoose13
    Exhaustively thorough portrait of the abortion issue in the United States.
  • philliprenke
    November 1, 2010
    philliprenke
    A very good documentary on one of the most sensative subjects in this country. Without spoiling anything, I will just say it's very interesting what became of the woman who was the focal point in the Roe v. Wade case that made abortion legal.
  • iamthethinman
    May 24, 2010
    iamthethinman
    This is one of those fiercely heated cultural issues in the USA, and it is mostly fought by the people you see in this movie. But, at least this movie does one good thing, show the people getting them. It is well produced and well edited and does what it can to be unbiased. But j... read moreust their selection of people to interview gives us its opinion. And this is really the beauty of this movie.

    There are loonies on both sides, but this movie really shows that the loonies on the anti-abortion side are often times just flat out crazy hypocrites while the pro-abortion people are often crass and condescending. But it was summed up well by Dershowitz or Chomsky in that both sides are right because there is a really bad other side either way. As a movie, it really does show the bad of both sides. Hard viewing, but intriguing.
  • wpwentzell
    April 29, 2010
    wpwentzell
    This documentary is a necessary resource for anyone who wants see the face of abortion in the United States. Whether you are pro or anti abortion rights, you should watch this documentary. You will be surprised how much you will learn.
  • RicC
    February 27, 2010
    RicC
    I'm versed in the abortion issue, but I wanted to know what this documentary would communicate to the illiterate audience; i.e. We cinephiles. There's nothing here that would really convince opposing sides to convert. It's rather unbiased and it speaks about nothing new, except, ... read moreit sort of epitomizes the stupidity of fundamentalist troglodytes. There's way too much emotion clouding people's rationality that it frustrates. If I was a woman, I'd regularly get abortions just to piss off the sentimentalist unwavering anti-freedomers.
  • jtan189
    June 23, 2009
    jtan189
    Great movie that effectively shows both sides of the abortion debate. I don't think that the message it gave out was biased. It gets the information out in the open and lets the viewer decide for himself what he supports.
  • ohitsjamie
    May 28, 2009
    ohitsjamie
    Amazing, great documentary. I love that they held nothing back, and I love the use of black and white throughout. It totally reinforces why I love documentaries.
  • afilmbymichaelmargetis
    January 2, 2009
    afilmbymichaelmargetis
    Heart-wrenching and extremely hard-to-watch documentary chronicling the pro-choice/pro-life movements of the past seventy years or so. Wisely shot in black and white to give it that cold, eerie feel director Tony Kaye (American History X) provides us with another fascinating and ... read moreextraordinary motion picture, one just wishes it was shorter than 152 minutes. Grade: B+

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Critic Reviews

Bob Mondello
October 18, 2008
Bob Mondello, NPR.org

When the focus narrows to the personal, the film becomes undeniably powerful in its specifics. Full Review

J. R. Jones
December 4, 2007
J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader

You may not leave the theater having switched sides, but you'll probably respect the other side more, and that in itself would be a victory for human life. Full Review

Roger Ebert
October 26, 2007
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

At 152 minutes, his film doesn't seem long, because at every moment something absorbing, disturbing, depressing or infuriating is happening. Full Review

Michael Phillips
October 25, 2007
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune

No one will have an easy time of it with Lake of Fire, a work of profound anguish centered on the abortion rights debate. Full Review

Desson Thomson
October 19, 2007
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

Lake of Fire does something with the volatile subject of abortion that neutral observers and even political partisans can appreciate: It offers a wide representation of perspectives and opinions. Full Review

Carina Chocano
October 12, 2007
Carina Chocano, Los Angeles Times

A 2 1/2 -hour documentary on abortion may sound like a hard sell, but the depth and scope of Tony Kaye's grueling Lake of Fire nonetheless justifies feeling like you've just taken a long, blistering s... Full Review

Stephen Whitty
October 5, 2007
Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger

[Kaye has] taken his camera places and filmed things that neither side will want you see. Full Review

Gene Seymour
October 4, 2007
Gene Seymour, Newsday

Wherever you stand on the volatile issue of abortion, Tony Kaye's exhaustive documentary could dislodge your certainties with a broad survey of opinion from opposite extremes and explicit depictions o... Full Review

Andrew O'Hehir
October 4, 2007
Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com

Highly compelling, if overlong and overwrought. Full Review

Lisa Schwarzbaum
October 3, 2007
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly

Viewer opinions about life and death provoked by Lake of Fire are not likely to flip, but they sure will get shaken. Full Review

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