Lake of Fire

Confronting, evocative documentary that captures the fervour while maintaining an impressive level of objectivity. The B&W presentation elevates the beauty of many shots, while also muting the zealous ranting and more disturbing images. The misogyny and terror tactics of religious nutjobs is infuriating, as is their ambivalence post conception, especially regarding economic realities. Wisely finishes by personalising the issue with a procedure that is honest and moving.

As far as documentaries are concerned, I've seen few, if any better than Lake of Fire. Its intense and epic consideration on the topic of abortion is both riveting and enlightening. It never tries to be single-sided and presents the topic from all perspectives and covers all the information in a concise, understandable way that is never too broad or too much for its own good. This is a fantastic movie and is wholly thought-provoking on a level few documentaries are.

Fair, unflinching documentary that tries to bring both sides to a better understanding of the other. When this documentary does take sides, it's only against cruelty/stupidity -- this is a very humane film that cares about people. The talking heads offer a lot of insight & philosophical discussion. (P.S. Part of me hopes Noam Chomsky never washes his hands again, so that in the future we can make lots of cellular Chomsky copies.)

Thoughtful and penetrating documentary into a really complex matter. It's incredibly difficult to be objective about abortion, since the opposing sides hold such different assumptions and beliefs on matters religious, ethical, and biological, but this film offers a provocative attempt to cover a lot of ground, and that's pretty commendable.

Intense, powerful, very moving and informative. This is essential viewing for anyone concerned about or involved in the abortion debate. Regardless of where you stand, this documentary will soften your opinion.

When you have such a vocal section of this argument that are undeniably irrational and crazed its hard to keep this one-sided, but this documentary pulls it off the best it can. By the end, it brings us around to the fact that this isn't about sides - it's about people who try to make the decision they feel is best - for better or worse.

Excellent abortion documentary that truly shows both the pro-life and pro-choice camps. It pulls no punches and graphically shows you what happens to the unborn children/fetuses as well as showing you what an abortion looks like, which I've never seen before and was certainly an unpleasant eye-opener. This is certainly a must see for anyone and was an incredibly impressive endeavor on such a widespread and controversial moral subject.

Horrifying and thought-provoking at the same time. Very possibly the best movie of 2007

Some of the most disturbing video footage I have ever seen in my life. Did make me rethink whether I could go through with an abortion if I needed to. Previously, I had thought, no problem, I can't handle a baby, the abortion would be best for everyone, especially baby who might not have a great life. Now I am not so sure.

Whatever else it does, this film will certainly leave an impression on you. You'll not soon forget it, especially if you can sit through the entire fucking thing. So long. So very long.

Overwhelming. I was scared. I was angry. I cried. And I was relieved. After that 150 minutes I felt really blessed, to live in this little, educated, peaceful, democratic, thoughtful place called Europe. We may not make such great documentaries, but mabye that's because we don't need to. Our problems are simply - Thank God! - not that big right now.

I used to adore the even-handedness of this, but as I've become older I've also become more adamantly pro-choice to the point where anything that gives a voice to pro-life beliefs annoys me. Still, mostly well made and unflinching.

As comprehensive and objective as everyone says. And if you needed to explain the contentious abortion issue to someone who had never heard of it, this doc is perfect. But if you've followed the debate (or mostly argument) for the past 25 years, there's not too much new ground here. And at some point it becomes clear that we're just recording the pieces of a puzzle that will never be resolved.

A hell of a filmic discussion on a hugely problematic issue -- although the film does its best to keep both sides even, it's no surprise to me (nor anyone else) that this film really can't help but ultimately favour the winning team.

its ok

A well made film and it is important to see. However, please don't tell me that the film is balanced or fair to both sides. While the pro-choice side had their share of wild-eyed fanatics, they also had intelligent speakers. The pro-life side ranged from fanatics to the murderously insane. I wish the filmmaker had found a couple reasonably-spoken people to interview on the pro life side-- there are many, if only he had looked.

A great documentary on the very heated controversy over abortion. It gives both sides of the argument and is clearly not fighting with an agenda, which is a trap that a lot of documentaries fall into.

Might be a bit cliched but manages to be an unbiased documentary of a highly controversial issue.

Very powerful and the 35mm black and white photography is beautiful. A bit too much time given to the overt nutjobs, though.

A doc about abortion, it seems as if it's more about Christianity. I personally think their views are insane and don't make sense. I really liked the guy in front of the chalkboard, don't remember his name, but I thought the facts he mentioned couldn't be more right. A really touching documentary, and made me a little angry that some people can be so fucking stupid

Objectivity. This is how you make a documentary.

Great documentary. Really captured the issues behind, and in front of, abortion without becoming overly preachy. The problem with most docs of this nature is that the filmmakers might give equal time to both sides, but they pick reasonable, intelligent people from the side they agree with and crazy loons from the side they don't. I noticed a fair amount of loons hoisting the pro-life banner but maybe I'm just biased. Also, some of them killed abortion doctors, that's fucked.

I hate it when filmmakers film in black and white as a metaphor for the shades of gray that exist within their subject matter.

I swear to the God that I don't believe in, I thought that doctor sifting through baby parts was making a stock. I spend too much time in the kitchen.

Not as insightful, enthralling, or objective as many seem to claim. Part of it's punch is pulled because of how much time I've personally spent on the issue, so I'm sure much of the power is lost, but I found that while it was never boring it also was way too broad. The social issues surrounding it are important, but I didn't need three separate stories of religious nutjobs to drive home the point. More time should be given to the philosophers. Even when I disagreed with them they were riveting

An interesting film that does a decent job giving voice to both sides of a deeply contentious issue. I found it interesting to see how everyone in the film--from religious nut to thoughtful philosopher--who discussed abortion's rightness or wrongness framed the issue in their own terms. I also found the penultimate sequence following a woman through the procedure gut-wrenching, her final moments on screen beautifully illustrating human limitation and inner conflict.

I was thinking "oh god this is way too long for a documentary this is going to be awful" but I couldn't stop watching. Also, it had Noam Chomsky.