"Let it be law": a film about the fight for legal abortion in Argentina presented at the Cannes Film Festival – 05/11/2019

With 800 seats and dressing room covered with green tissue from the National Campaign for Safe and Free Abortion, Saturday 18 premieres "Let it be law!" at the Cannes Film Festival Among the audience will be several historical references of the campaign, They will travel specially to accompany the first screening of the film that shows the struggle for the legalization of abortion in Argentina. The scenario is particular: in France, abortion is legal since 1975. As in all Europe and in all developed countries.

The film is by Juan Solanas, who filmed for months and visited a large part of the country to talk to women who had to undergo clandestine interventions, relatives of deceased women and other protagonists in this struggle, such as women in the countryside and "sororas" lawmakers who voted for legal abortion.

"I grew up in France, I came into exile in 1977, I had never heard of abortions because it was not a problem, it was legal." , and in 2000, in Buenos Aires, I learned that in Argentina, it was banned and it seemed crazy to me, a delusion, because in some questions, the country is advancedbut in what is clearly not, "says Solanas to Clarín, who later shot" Nordeste ", where there is a scene of a woman aborting because she could not not continue with this pregnancy.

Last year, Solanas had read that Congress was going to debate the legalization of abortion. He felt hope. He devoured every note on the subject. For the first time, the Campaign project has grown from the Congress ticket table. It was the seventh time that I presented it. The debate in the House lasted a little over two months. The lower house voted for.

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"That night, I stayed awake waiting for the vote, which eventually happened in the morning and I cried, I cried emotion on TV"says the filmmaker, who has just taken his camera and traveled to Buenos Aires, and has been living in Uruguay for five years." I did not know how strong these women were in the street, the girls, the green tide. I was shocked, in a positive shock. "

The debate on legalization has pbaded in the Senate. Solanas – 52, son of "Pino" – continued to film. Even this vote night, cold, windy. The upper house voted against. It was three o'clock in the morning and women were crying in the street. Solanas captured the discomfort. "At that time, I decided that I would make a film, show the reality of women, I intend to show things honestly, to inform, there are people who do not want to mingle or think, they look like ostriches that hide their heads. It can be indifferent, I am moved by equality, by social justice, I adhere to feminism, "said Solanas.

Account that also approached the sectors of heavenly handkerchiefs, those who are against abortion. "I was rejected saying what I did, I felt paranoia and hostility, but there are testimonials in the film, they are, and they are presented honestly, not like drawings animated. " Solanas ensures that just listening to the stories of women and family members they must have gone into hiding.

In his film are relatives of Liliana Herrera, who died last August after a haemorrhage after a clandestine abortion in Santiago del Estero. Liliana was 22 years old and two girls of 3 and 6 years old. In "¡que ley!" there are also relatives of Ana Maria Acevedo, who died at the age of 19, because at Iturraspe Hospital in Santa Fe, they refused to have an abortion and had a Cancer. They also did not let her do chemo treatment so as not to hurt the fetus. It was in 2007. His story is an emblem. His mother, Norma Cuevas, will also be in Cannes.

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"I think after listening to these stories you can not bear the one of the two lives. Moreover, beliefs are personal, because inside, they should not be imposed on others. I am looking for a reflection. "Solanas also says that in his film, there is energy, festivities, vitality:" The feminist movement is very powerful, it advances, it is at the forefront of technology. I have no doubt that abortion will be law. I'm ashamed that it's not yet because we're wasting time and women are still dying"

Marta Alanis, historical referent of the Campaign and Catholics for the right of decision, will attend the world premiere of the Cannes Film Festival. She will be one of the Argentinean women who will be able to attend the special screening in Room 60E at 4:45 pm on May 18th. "I'm so excited!" Said Clarín. Account that they wear two thousand green scarves from the countryside and that some will be giants, to hang at the boxes.

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"We are twelve to travel because we do not have resources, but there will be activists from France, Spain". Marta told a press conference on Sunday: "We are going to tell what is happening in Argentina, and in Europe they can not believe that not only is abortion not legal, but it is also held back by fundamentalist groups. Argentines feel very embarrbaded"